Bond set for serial bank robbery suspect

ST. Petersburg, Fla. - St. Petersburg police have arrested a 48-year-old woman and charged her with two October 7th bank robberies. Mai Phan Heim is also a suspect in a September holdup.

Detectives tracked her down at her home late Monday where they said she was found hiding in a closet. She did not confess, but investigators believe the robberies were committed to support a drug habit.

She's charged with two counts of robbery in connection with the October 7th robberies of the Stearns Bank at 7555 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North and the BB&T Bank at 7100 4th Street North.

She is also a suspect in the September 17th robbery at the SunTrust Bank at 8299 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North, but has not been charged.

According to a police statement, Heim's method of operation was the same in all three robberies. In each case, she wore a ball cap and carried a large tote bag. She handed the tellers a cell phone with a text message demanding cash with no dye pack.

During one of the robberies, she displayed a handgun, the statement said.

On the day of the October 7th robberies, Heim allegedly approached the Florida Bank at 3065 34th Street North. But bank personnel, who had been alerted to the Stearns robbery and given her description, locked the front door.

It's also believed she entered two other banks in Pinellas Park, but did not attempt to commit a robbery.

A judge set her bond this afternoon at $30,000 and appointed Heim a public defender.

Heim has a previous record. In 2007, she was charged with eight counts of issuing bad checks.