Sept. 15--A man accused of robbing banks with the help of a smartphone was apparently caught red-handed in more ways than one, according to court records.
Investigators say they found red stains on the hands of Andre Sanders, 31, who used a smartphone to tap out a stick-up note during one of two bank robberies this week.
He apparently obtained the stains during the first robbery, when a teller inserted an exploding dye pack inside the bag with the stolen loot.
Authorities said Sanders, who also goes by the name Miguel Antonio Thomas, is also suspected in at least two bank robberies in recent weeks in Texas and Georgia.
The first Broward County robbery occurred about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Wells Fargo bank at 12440 Pines Boulevard. Officials with the Pembroke Pines Police Department were attending a 9/11 memorial ceremony nearby.
Police have said Sanders handed the teller a cellphone containing a message demanding money. Sanders left the bag with the tainted money in the parking lot after it exploded, authorities have said.
Sanders then fled the area in a blue Chrysler 300, the same car spotted at previous robberies, police said.
Capt. Sean Hemingway -- who was at the 9/11 memorial and driving an unmarked vehicle -- saw the blue car and followed the driver to the Chase bank at 11100 Pembroke Road in Miramar.
Inside the bank, Sanders allegedly told the teller he was a former bank employee, according to arresting documents filed in federal court.
"I know your procedures, so no dye-packs," he told the teller. "Don't push the alarm or call the police."
Authorities said Sanders wore a semi-automatic pistol on his waistband and a bullet-proof vest.
By the time Sanders left the bank with more than $2,600 in cash, Hemingway had set up a take-down team outside. Sanders was arrested without incident.
[email protected]; 954-356-4605 or @GeoRodriguez on Twitter
Copyright 2012 - Sun Sentinel
