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(CNN) -- Investigators in New England are looking for a woman who they say has robbed at least six banks -- often while claiming to have a bomb.

"When she goes into the banks, she gives the teller information through a note or verbally that she has a bomb," said Sgt. Jim Keeney of the Connecticut State Police. "However, there haven't been any reports of an actual bomb."

Authorities say they believe the woman has held up banks in the Connecticut towns of Middletown, Montville, East Hartford, and Windsor, as well as banks in West Springfield, Massachusetts, and Westerly, Rhode Island.

Women commit 6.2 percent of bank robberies nationwide, up from 4.9 percent in 2002, according to recent FBI figures.

The one-woman crime wave in New England apparently began September 21 at the Citizens Bank in Montville, Connecticut. State police said "a lone white female ... entered the bank with a bag in her possession. The suspect approached the teller indicated she was in possession of a bomb and demanded cash."

The woman left the bag on a counter and bolted, police said.

Four days later, a woman entered a branch of the New Alliance Bank in East Hartford, Connecticut. Investigators with the East Hartford Police Department said she "left a note indicating that she had a bomb and demanded $1,000. She fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of money."

Police suspect she struck again the next day in Windsor, Connecticut.

Sgt. Albert Costa of the Norwich Police Department said police are looking for a suspect who has lived in Norwich since 2006. He said the suspect has served time in prison for bank robbery.

Police describe the suspect as "heavy-set" with long brown hair. They say she wore dark-colored hooded jackets in several of the robberies.

AEA wrote:As far as I am concerned, YES! I would not hesitate.

But, it is not normally something you hear about that a mugger or fanatic attacks a private individual with a bomb threat.

More likely in this case if the woman stated verbally rather than using a note that she has a bomb, and I heard her state that, I would be drawing and shooting.

SRVA wrote:The main issue with shooting someone carrying a bomb is how the detonator is set up. If they have a "dead man's switch" it could get real exciting after you fire the shot.