Robbers hit 2 Smyrna banks within 24 hours

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Police in Smyrna say two suspects were behind bars minutes after two bank robberies.

The robberies are unrelated, but they happened within 24 hours of each other.

Police say one suspect said he was homeless and needed food. The other said he was trying to get home to another state. They may not be related, but the locations are very close by.

The first incident happened Wednesday at a Fifth Third bank in Kroger on South Cobb Drive. Another happened at a Wells Fargo just across the street.

"It's just not something that happens in Smyrna, or Marietta or the unincorporated areas. It happened here in Cobb, and we're all one team," said Cobb County Sheriff Neil Warren.

Warren thinks interagency cooperation played a big role in the quick arrests of two bank robbery suspects. The unrelated robberies are separated by less than 24 hours and just a few hundred yards.

"A caller from the (Fifth Third) bank, an employee, said the man came in and presented a hold-up note demanding money," said Capt. Robert Harvey.

Harvey said the robber left Fifth Third bank before he could get any money.

Workers provided a description, and officers chased down 18-year-old Kentrell Allen, who they say attempted to outrun them.

Then, Thursday morning, another man presented a note at Wells Fargo across the street. Police said he took the money, and then ran to the Kroger across the street.

Police say this robber went into the Kroger to change clothes. They showed the surveillance video of the moment officers caught the suspect’s attention and he surrendered on the ground.

They said they recovered the stack of money 28-year-old Terrence Robinson stole.

“This is unprecedented in my 23 years of policing. I don't think I’ve encountered of experienced a success like this," Harvey said.

Police say both suspects were arrested without incident. They say neither was carrying a gun.

WSBTV