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Robbery suspect arrested

• A suspected serial armed robber was released from Dooly State Prison in 2002 after serving five years for armed robbery.

Susan McCord

ALBANY — Albany Police detectives say the man they arrested Thursday for the robbery of a South Slappey Boulevard business may be responsible for a series of armed robberies that have plagued business owners for more than a month.

Police say that 28-year-old Jerome William Lowe was one of several people who had become the focus of surveillance for several days after research by detectives revealed a prior armed robbery conviction. Thursday, when police say Lowe robbed the Wash House on South Slappey Boulevard, they were ready.

“My opinion is that he’s our man,” Capt. Charlie Poole, deputy commander of the Albany Police Department’s Investigative Unit said. “....we’ve been conducting surveillance on him for a while and got him when he moved.”

Detectives have worked nine robberies they believe were done by the same bandana-clad man since June 13. Each time, the manner and method were the same.

Detectives say the bandit calmly walks in, often crouching to mask his height before approaching a cashier with a black handgun and demanding money. Most times, he’s used a plastic grocery bag and has fled the scene on foot.

Thursday, Poole said a man robbed the Wash House — a coin laundry and check cashing business on the 300 block of South Slappey Boulevard — and used the same technique to take away a bag full of money.

Within minutes, officers swarmed Lowe at his home at 101 Frost Street and took him into custody.

Poole said detectives took evidence away from the scene and were questioning Lowe Thursday afternoon. So far, he’s been charged with a sole count of armed robbery but, according to detectives, more charges are pending.

According to the Georgia Department of Corrections, Lowe served five years at Dooly State Prison for a 1997 armed robbery in Dougherty County. He was released in 2002.

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