Double trouble: Man robs same bank twice, exactly one year apart
Police are experiencing deja vu in Columbus—the same man reportedly robbed a bank exactly one year to the day after his first robbery there.
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According to the Columbus Division of Police, the robbery was committed by John Blakely. They said, “On August 4, at approximately 1:42 pm, John Blakely used a note to rob a bank in the 2800 Blk of E. Main St. Mr. Blakely was arrested shortly after the robbery, still in possession of money stolen during this incident. He has been charged with robbery and slated at the Franklin County Jail. This robbery occurred exactly one year to the day of Mr. Blakely robbing the exact same bank on August 4, 2025. Mr. Blakely was charged with this bank robbery, along with a second bank robbery that occurred in Reynoldsburg on August 6, 2025. He was adjudicated on these two robberies and was sentenced to three years of community control in January 2026.
Stay tuned on August 4, 2027 for a potential update to this story. Police ask that anyone with information on the incident contact the Columbus Police Robbery Unit at (614) 645-4662. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).
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