PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A man wanted in connection with a string of bank robberies in Squirrel Hill is in police custody.

The United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force arrested 33-year-old Joseph Francis Guiney Jr. in Penn Hills.

Guiney will be charged with four bank robberies committed in the Squirrel Hill area.

“We’re happy that he’s in custody, and at this point, he’s incarcerated,” said Lt. Kevin Kraus, of Pittsburgh Police. “We believe a drug addiction is what led to him to commit four bank robberies, that’s correct.”

The first robbery happened on March 27, 2012, at the First National Bank in the 4300-block of Murray Avenue.

Guiney allegedly demanded money from a teller and told them he had a gun. He never showed a weapon and fled the bank with an undetermined amount of money.

The second robbery happened on Oct. 31, 2012, at the First Niagara Bank in the 2000-block of Murray Avenue.

Guiney allegedly slipped a note to a teller which said, “I have a gun, give me the money.”

The teller went to the safe to retrieve an undetermined amount of money and the suspect fled the bank on foot.

The third robbery happened on Nov. 9, 2012, at the Citizens Bank in the 1800-block of Murray Avenue.

In this case, Guiney allegedly slipped another note to the teller demanding money.

The final robbery happened on Nov. 17, 2012, at the same Citizens Bank.

Guiney allegedly approached a teller and said, “Give it up, you gave it up last week so give it up again.” He then showed a 9 mm handgun in his waistband and said, “I don’t want to do this but I have a problem.”

The teller handed over an undetermined amount of money and the suspect fled on foot.

RELATED LINKS

More Local News
More Squirrel Hill News
More Reports From Marty Griffin