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GREENSBORO — Christmas may have came a day early for law enforcement officers seeking to end a series of bank robberies that netted cash from more than a half dozen banks in the Carolinas, including in the Triad.

Just after noon Thursday, Mocksville police arrested a man they believe to be the “Bearcat Bandit,” thought responsible for several robberies since October.

The arrest came after officers were called to a bank robbery attempt at the BB&T branch at 1386 Yadkinville Road. The suspect left before officers arrived.

Officers stopped a white van at a nearby convenience store and arrested the driver, 47-year-old Michael J. Dolphin of Loveland, Ohio.

In the van, police found items they believe link Dolphin to the Bearcat Bandit bank robberies.

Attempts to reach Mocksville police and agents with the FBI for more information were unsuccessful Thursday.

Television station WGHP reported that a teller recognized Dolphin from fliers of the Bearcat Bandit distributed by Mocksville police after a previous robbery in the city.

The station also reported that a firearm, clothing and cash were found in the van, which had Ohio plates.

The Bearcat Bandit got his nickname because in many of the robberies he wore a black and red jacket with a University of Cincinnati Bearcats logo on the front. In some robberies, the robber gave a note to bank tellers saying he had a bomb and demanded money.

In many cases, including an Oct. 23 robbery in Greensboro at the First Citizens Bank at 3200 Randleman Road, the robber fled in a white van.

Sgt. Gerald Stephens, with the Greensboro Police Department, said Thursday that he had not gotten confirmation that Dolphin is a suspect in the Greensboro robbery.

But early descriptions of the Mocksville suspect matched the person authorities were looking for in the robbery spree, he said.

“We felt like we were looking for a displaced Yankee, so to speak,” Stephens said. “We felt like the van could have Ohio tags because witnesses reported seeing them in the front and back, which that state requires.”

In addition to crimes in Greensboro and Mocksville, the Bearcat Bandit has been linked to bank robberies in High Point, Winston-Salem, Burlington, Hickory, Statesville, Durham and Spartanburg, S.C., since October.

The most recent robberies were reported Dec. 15.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com