2 banks robbed inside of different Giant Eagle stores, third being investigated

UPDATE: 6:25 p.m.  THURSDAY

Monroeville police confirmed there was a robbery inside the Citizens Bank at the Giant Eagle on Monroeville Blvd. Police said they do not believe the robbery is connected with two other bank robberies on Thursday.

UPDATE 5:54 p.m. THURSDAY

A possible third bank robbery is being investigated at the Giant Eagle in Monroeville.  It was not immediately known if the Monroeville crime scene was related to the other two bank robberies.

A dye pack was seen lying on the ground outside of the store.

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(earlier)

Police are searching for a man who suspected of robbing two banks inside of Giant Eagle stores on Thursday.

Jason D. Betz, 40, is charged with two counts of robbery, simple assault and terroristic threats.

PHOTOS: Citizens Bank robbery suspect

Police said Betz is suspect of robbing two Citizens Banks, one on Library Road in Bethel Park and the other on Butler Plank Road in Shaler Township.

Bethel Park police said Betz has an extensive criminal history involving bank robbery and is currently wanted for a parole violation.

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Witnesses at the Bethel Park location said the robber entered the bank around 1 p.m. and passed a note to a bank teller, demanding money. No weapon was visible. The robber left the bank with about $2,000 in cash and drove away in a white Dodge Caravan in the direction of Castle Shannon.

Police believe he was also responsible for the robbery of a Citizens Bank in Shaler on Thursday morning.

"The photos appear to be of the same individual," said Bethel Park Police Chief Timothy O'Connor.

Betz is described as a white male who is almost bald with a light beard. He was last seen wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt with a Pittsburgh Penguins logo on the right side, dark-colored shorts and dark-colored shoes.

Anyone with information about Betz's whereabouts is asked to call police. If he is seen, use caution and contact police.

Stay with Channel 11 News and WPXI.com for continuing coverage as details become available.

Suspect: Jason Betz

Cox Media Group