‘Takeover Bandits’ Suspected in 15 Robberies

TYLER, Texas – Two brothers will stand trial starting today for a series of violent takeover-style armed robberies that hit as many as 15 Texas credit unions and banks for as much as $250,000.
 
Authorities are focusing on five of the robberies believed committed by Derrick Van Hodges, 34, and his half-brother, Paul Edward Thomas, 40, known as the “Takeover Bandits” for the methods used.
 
The charges include heists at: Kelly Tyler FCU, Bank of America in Henderson, Austin Bank in Troup, Bank of America in Lufkin and the Citizens National Bank in Crockett. The men also are believed responsible for the 2005 armed robbery at EastTexas Professional CU.
 
Hodges was arrested on state charges for the Henderson robbery after a glove left behind at the bank led investigators to the suspect through DNA.
 
Thomas was arrested by federal authorities on Oct. 11, 2007, after a search of three of his storage units led authorities to alleged evidence from the heists.