After allegedly robbing three Forsyth County banks in two weeks without any effort to disguise his face, David Ryan Stone might not have been surprised to see a surveillance camera image of himself when he picked up a local newspaper Thursday.

Whether he was surprised or not, that image, and an ensuing tip to authorities, led to the 26-year-old Dawsonville man’s arrest late Thursday on bank robbery charges. The newspaper with his picture was found in an extended stay motel room where Stone was in hiding, authorities said.

"The news media release of that photograph was instrumental in getting a tip as to who he was," Forsyth County sheriff’s Lt. Col. Gene Moss said.

Authorities also found unspecified evidence linking Stone to the robberies and evidence of heroin use, Moss said. None of the stolen cash was recovered.

"It appears (the robberies) were motived by his addiction to drugs," Moss said.

Stone, who was staying at the Dawsonville Suites Motel, tried to flee on foot when deputies arrived about 10:30 p.m. Thursday, but didn’t get far before he was caught.

Stone’s crime spree, according to authorities, encompassed two robberies of the Crescent Bank on Ga. 9, on Jan. 22 and Monday, and a robbery of the Georgia Federal Credit Union on Canton Highway on Jan. 28.

In all three cases, a note was passed to a teller demanding cash. No weapon was displayed.

Stone remains in the Forsyth County jail, charged with robbery.