Robbery investigation continues
Robbery investigation continues
By Lucas Knowles
Editor
The search is continuing for the man who robbed the Maine Bank & Trust branch in Scarborough. Authorities now believe that the incident is related to similar crimes committed in Maine and in other states.
At approximately 11 a.m. on Nov. 28, a man entered the Maine Bank & Trust branch at 439 Route One, approached the counter, showed a gun, told everyone to put up their hands and demanded money. He then jumped behind the counter, went through drawers and asked for money from the vault. He stuffed the money in a duffle bag and then fled from the scene.
The man has been described as approximately six feet tall, weighing 230 pounds, with graying black hair. He was reported to have been wearing a black ski mask, gray hooded sweatshirt and gray sweatpants at the time of the crime.
According to police, the man who robbed the bank was seen driving a gray Chevrolet Z71 pickup truck. That truck was then recovered after being left close the Scarborough residence where it had been reported missing. Police believe that the man took a second vehicle from that location, likely with an accomplice.
Detective Don Blatchford of the Scarborough Police Department said the robbery is likely connected to a string of similar thefts that have occurred.
“We have reason to believe that this incident was connected to similar crimes in this state and other states,” Blatchford said.
Blatchford said the Federal Bureau of Investigation has also become involved in the investigation into the robbery because of standard procedure involving crimes like the one that occurred on Nov. 28. He said that the robbery at the Maine Bank & Trust is similar to other crimes that have occurred in the way it was carried out.
“The MOs are similar (to other crimes),” Blatchford said. “There are some unique qualities to what happened at this location and other locations, and right now we are running with that theory.”
Only one customer was in the Maine Bank & Trust when the robbery happened, along with staff members.
Mike Stoddard, senior vice president for Maine Bank & Trust, said employees carried out the proper protocols during the robbery.
“Our personnel followed procedures there were trained to follow,” Stoddard said. “We have some pretty strict cash control policies and we pleased with the way that staff handled it.”
Stoddard would not divulge how much money was taken as a result of the incident, but did say that, as a result of the robbery, the bank’s “losses were generally low.”
Stoddard believed it was the first time that the Scarborough branch of Maine Bank & Trust had been held up. He said the bank has been cooperating fully with authorities and released surveillance tape for police to use.
Blatchford said the police department is still asking the public for any information they can provide about the incident. Members of the public can provide information by calling the Scarborough Police Department’s crime tip hotline at 730-4300, ext. 3.
By Lucas Knowles
Editor
The search is continuing for the man who robbed the Maine Bank & Trust branch in Scarborough. Authorities now believe that the incident is related to similar crimes committed in Maine and in other states.
At approximately 11 a.m. on Nov. 28, a man entered the Maine Bank & Trust branch at 439 Route One, approached the counter, showed a gun, told everyone to put up their hands and demanded money. He then jumped behind the counter, went through drawers and asked for money from the vault. He stuffed the money in a duffle bag and then fled from the scene.
The man has been described as approximately six feet tall, weighing 230 pounds, with graying black hair. He was reported to have been wearing a black ski mask, gray hooded sweatshirt and gray sweatpants at the time of the crime.
According to police, the man who robbed the bank was seen driving a gray Chevrolet Z71 pickup truck. That truck was then recovered after being left close the Scarborough residence where it had been reported missing. Police believe that the man took a second vehicle from that location, likely with an accomplice.
Detective Don Blatchford of the Scarborough Police Department said the robbery is likely connected to a string of similar thefts that have occurred.
“We have reason to believe that this incident was connected to similar crimes in this state and other states,” Blatchford said.
Blatchford said the Federal Bureau of Investigation has also become involved in the investigation into the robbery because of standard procedure involving crimes like the one that occurred on Nov. 28. He said that the robbery at the Maine Bank & Trust is similar to other crimes that have occurred in the way it was carried out.
“The MOs are similar (to other crimes),” Blatchford said. “There are some unique qualities to what happened at this location and other locations, and right now we are running with that theory.”
Only one customer was in the Maine Bank & Trust when the robbery happened, along with staff members.
Mike Stoddard, senior vice president for Maine Bank & Trust, said employees carried out the proper protocols during the robbery.
“Our personnel followed procedures there were trained to follow,” Stoddard said. “We have some pretty strict cash control policies and we pleased with the way that staff handled it.”
Stoddard would not divulge how much money was taken as a result of the incident, but did say that, as a result of the robbery, the bank’s “losses were generally low.”
Stoddard believed it was the first time that the Scarborough branch of Maine Bank & Trust had been held up. He said the bank has been cooperating fully with authorities and released surveillance tape for police to use.
Blatchford said the police department is still asking the public for any information they can provide about the incident. Members of the public can provide information by calling the Scarborough Police Department’s crime tip hotline at 730-4300, ext. 3.
Comments