Knoxville's "Black Tape Robber" Nabbed

  • Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Black Tape Robber
Black Tape Robber

The man known as the "Black Tape Robber" who had carried out six recent bank robberies in Knoxville, has been arrested, authorities said.

Travis W. Carver has been charged with the robbery of SunTrust Bank at 8445 Walbrook Dr. on Tuesday.

Carver, 25, was arrested without incident at his residence on Teaberry Drive at just past 11 p.m.

The Knox County Sheriff's Office, the Knoxville Police Department and the FBI were involved in the arrest of Carver.

Carver appeared Wednesday morning before Magistrate Judge H. Bruce Guyton.

Investigators believe the SunTrust Bank robber also robbed the Citizens National Bank on Dec. 10 and 17, the BB&T on Northshore Drive on Nov. 9, the SunTrust located inside the Kroger on Middlebrook Pike at Cedar Lane on Dec. 27, and the Citizens National Bank located inside the Kroger store at 9501 South Northshore Dr.

He was known as the Black Tape Robber because he placed electrical black tape on his fingers to avoid leaving fingerprints.

But the arrest did not bring bank robberies to a halt in Knoxville.

At 10:25 a.m. Wednesday, a "large man" entered the SunTrust Bank at 700 Merchants Road. He demanded money and left with an undetermined amount.

Witnesses described the man as a white male, 25-35 years old, 250-300 pounds, 5’7”-5’9” tall, having a reddish goatee and mustache, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt with “Tennessee” written across the chest in orange letters, and wraparound sunglasses. He was believed to be armed with a handgun.

A reward is being offered for information which leads to the arrest of the robber. Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 865 544-0751, or the Knoxville Police Department at 865 215-7212.


Large man robs Knoxville bank Wednesday morning
Large man robs Knoxville bank Wednesday morning
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