Six bank robberies keep authorities busy

LAS VEGAS - Despite the city's most wanted bank robbery suspect being in custody, a rash of bank heists have hit Las Vegas.

David Lee Harris, wanted in connection with 21 Las Vegas Valley bank robberies since April, was the first of four people arrested Tuesday as robbers hit six area banks, authorities said.

Harris was spotted after an eastside Wells Fargo branch bank robbery about 9:30 a.m. After a brief chase, Las Vegas police stopped Harris and took him into custody, FBI Special Agent Joseph Dickey said.

Harris was linked to the robberies by matching surveillance camera footage, Dickey said. In each robbery, the suspect - who doesn't wear a disguise - handed a note to the bank teller demanding money.

Harris, 31, of Las Vegas didn't have a weapon when he was taken into custody, Dickey said.

The robbery in which Harris is a suspect was one of six bank robberies reported Tuesday - a single-day total believed to be unprecedented in the valley, Dickey said.

Robert Carl Litheredge, 41, and David John Stanton, 32, both of Las Vegas, were arrested later at an apartment complex in connection with two of Tuesday's bank robberies of the Clark County Credit Union and a Nevada State Bank branch.

The two men are being investigated by the FBI in connection with additional bank robberies and a kidnapping, Las Vegas police said. Dickey said he did not know whether a weapon was used in those robberies.

A fourth suspect, Dennis Hydock, 39, was taken into custody after barricading himself inside his home for more than three hours.

Las Vegas Sgt. Chris Darcy said a man walked into the Bank of America branch on the city's east side brandishing a handgun and demanding money at about 3 p.m.

FBI officials say they are still looking for suspects in the day's first and last bank robberies.

At about 8:45 a.m., Dickey said two men entered a U S Bank branch in Henderson before it was open for business. The men handcuffed every employee before getting away with an undisclosed amount of money.

A man later entered a Wells Fargo branch in Henderson, close to the U S Bank branch in Henderson robbed earlier in the day, and demanded money about 5:15 p.m., Dickey said.

The number of bank robberies in the Las Vegas Valley for the year stands at 117 compared with 84 at this time last year, the FBI said.