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FBI: Brothers Believed To Be 'U30 Bandits'

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Jul 1, 2009 9:18 pm US/Eastern

FBI: Brothers Believed To Be 'U30 Bandits'

Suspects Captured In Needham Bank Robbery

NEEDHAM (WBZ) ― Two half brothers arrested after a bank robbery in Needham Wednesday afternoon are believed to be linked to the so-called 'U30 Bandit," who's wanted for at least seven bank robberies in the Boston suburbs since March, federal investigators said.

Police arrested 32-year-old Dimetri Long and 44-year-old Michael Coty after the afternoon bank robbery.

WHAT HAPPENED

The FBI says a man dressed in black and armed with a handgun robbed the Sovereign Bank on Highland Avenue around 1:30 p.m. There was a getaway car waiting. 

Police waiting outside the bank immediately arrested Long, but Coty took off in the getaway car.

Police chased the vehicle into Newton, where Coty was captured a short time later at a house on Country Club Road. SWAT teams surrounded the home while police moved in on the suspect.

"They've had about 15 people come in with camouflage gear and a SWAT team with machine guns, and they're going through doing a sweep," said neighbor Ken Halpern. 

FBI agents say the home was unoccupied, and workers on site locked the suspect out so he was unable to gain entry to the home.  Police arrested Coty on the front lawn.

While devices were used in some of the 'U30' heists, police say no device was found in Wednesday's robbery.

"It appears (the SWAT teams) are concerned that (the robbers) had a history of using explosive devices or what looked like explosive devices, and they want to make sure they're not doing that here," Halpern said.

There are no reports of injuries. 

MEN LINKED TO 'U30' BANK HEISTS

Agents believe the men, who are half brothers, are connected to the "U30 Bandit," who holds up banks in under 30 seconds.

"The investigation has led us to believe the individuals are related to the U30 bandit," said FBI agent Noreen Gleason. 
 
One of the suspects is from Norwood, and the other is from Dedham. The FBI believes both are familiar with the Newton area and used Newton neighborhoods as part of their escape routes in the 'U30' bank heists.

FBI HAD EYE ON SUSPECTS

Police sources tell WBZ that investigators have been watching Coty and Long for some time. They had the suspects under surveillance, so police were already in place to make quick arrests Wednesday after the bank robbery, WBZ learned.

Police were preparing search warrants for the homes of both suspects Wednesday night.

Police say Coty is a father of two children.

Both men are scheduled to be arraigned in Dedham District Court on Thursday.

There has been a $37,500 reward offered for information leading to the 'U30' Bandit's arrest. 

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