Wanted: Bank Robbery Suspect

Fairfax County Crime Solvers is asking the public's assistance in identifying the man responsible for last month's robbery at the BB&T bank at 6130 Redwood Square Centre in Centreville. And police have just released a composite sketch of the suspect, in hopes that someone may recognize him.

THE INCIDENT occurred Tuesday, Jan. 17, just after 10 a.m. A man walked into the bank, declared his intention to rob it and demanded cash. The robber then took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the bank on foot. No one was injured.

The suspect is described at a dark-skinned man, approximately 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall. He wore dark pants and a white shirt, as well as a white shirt around his head. Anyone with information about him or about this incident is asked to call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477 or police at 703-691-2131.

A $1,000 cash reward will be paid for information leading to an arrest. As always, callers never have to give their names or appear in court; they may remain anonymous.

Actually, this robbery was the second at that BB&T branch in 6 1/2 weeks. The first one happened Dec. 2, around 3:15 p.m. According to police Det. Earl Bowers, investigating the case, the robber approached a teller at the counter while the teller was completing a transaction.

"The suspect leaned over the counter, indicated he had a firearm, announced a robbery and threatened to shoot [the teller]," wrote Bowers in an affidavit for a warrant to search a suspect's home.

After the robber demanded money, the teller gave it to him and he walked out of the bank with it. Police eventually made an arrest, but the charge against that person was later dropped, so this crime, too, remains unsolved.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.