Those involved in recent bank robberies in Florala and Flomaton are now wanted by the FBI and a $5,000 reward is being offered for their capture and conviction, Florala Chief Sonny Bedsole said Wednesday.

“After the hit on the Flomaton bank, they are now being termed as ‘serial robbers,’ and the FBI is stepping into adopt the case and assist us in their capture,” Bedsole said of the unidentified man and woman who, on last Thursday, passed a handwritten note to a teller and made away with $1,700 in cash. It is believed that the couple hid in a port-a-potty near Florala’s Lake Jackson before a third-party helped them make their getaway.

Monday, a nearly identical heist was performed at Flomaton’s United Bank. After reviewing video surveillance of the robbery, a Florala teller said she believed it was the same couple.

“(In the Flomaton video, the two) were literally wearing the same clothes with the exception the man didn’t have on the camouflage jacket,” Bedsole said.

“The female had a tattoo on her neck – the whole nine yards.”

However, there is one difference between the Florala robbery and the Flomaton robbery – an eyewitness was able to provide a description of the getaway vehicle.

“It’s described as a two-toned – either grey on grey or a light blue – Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck with damage to the rear bumper,” he said.

Bedsole said an agent with the Mobile field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation contacted his department Tuesday, stating they would adopt the case.

“Normally, when it’s a non-violent offense, they leave it to the locals to work,” Bedsole said.

“But since there has now been a second robbery by these same individuals, they have earned the term ‘serial robbers.’”

Wachovia Bank officials are offering the reward to anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Florala’s robbery.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Florala Police Department at 334-858-3244.