ST. GEORGE – Police are seeking a suspect after a bank was robbed in St. George Thursday morning.
The St. George Communications Center reported a bank robbery at the State Bank of Southern Utah, 395 East St. George Blvd, at 9:41 a.m.
It was reported that an older male entered the bank and approached a bank teller. The suspect handed a note to the teller demanding money. There was no display of weapon or threat of force.
The male was described as being in his late 50’s or early 60’s with scruffy gray hair and facial stubble. He wore a light blue/gray button-up shirt, blue Old Navy hat and blue shoes with white trim. The male left on foot, unknown direction of travel.
The St. George Police and FBI are currently investigating the scene and searching for the suspect.
East Elementary School on 700 East was temporarily placed on lockdown as a precaution. The lockdown has since been lifted.
A similar bank robbery involving an older white male suspect occurred in Cedar City at the Mountain America Credit Union on Feb. 23. The FBI has connected that individual to at least four other bank robberies in Idaho, the last having occurred on March 6. In each incidence only verbal or written demands were made and a weapon was never displayed.
The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 50-60 years old with grey hair. Some witnesses have described him as 5 feet 9-10 inches tall and weighing 145-180 pounds.
Sgt. Sam Despain of the St. George Police Department said it was too early to determine whether or not the suspect who robbed State Bank of Southern Utah is the same as the one currently sought by the FBI for serial bank heists.
Anyone with information regarding the identification or location of this suspect, please contact the St George Police Investigation unit Detective Dunbar at 435-627-43428 or the St George Police Department at 435-627-4300.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @MoriKessler
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2013, all rights reserved.
sure resembles the recent bank robber that hit Mt America Credit Union in Cedar City
Is it standard procedure for them to just hand over whatever was requested even with no threat of force or weapon?
Actually, they do have “standard procedures” in place. Without going into detail, (because of security concerns,) I can tell you that the tellers are trained to comply in certain ways. This is for the protection of everyone, not only the bank employes, but any customers who may be on hand, or walk in while a stick up is happening. Money is insured, and can be replaced. Your life cannot be replaced.
Do any of these guys actually get caught? There are a lot of robberies like this in the area and I don’t typically hear of the apprehension of any of these suspects. In addition, why do the pictures that get posted for public identification all look like they were taken with a 1960’s-era polaroid camera and they somehow can’t be at face level? It doesn’t seem like it would be too much of an investment with technology at the level that it is, to post cameras at face-level and to get an HD image of whoever it is that is robbing my bank. But as it is, standard procedure and what constitutes “good police work” seems to be posting a crappy picture and asking the public if they know this guy. No wonder they don’t get apprehended. It seems to be a robber’s paradise here.
Yes actually, quite a lot of these guys get caught. As far as us being a robbers paradise is concerned, the way our city is laid out, with such close access to I-15, does make it seem like fairly “easy pickings.” However, quite a few folks have found out that the pickings are not quite that easy.
I do have to agree with your statement about the pictures though. Shoot, even the doctor’s offices have cameras that are mounted on the desk tops, to take a close up picture of their patients face. If the medical community can do this, why can’t the financial community?
How the crap does someone just rob a bank and walk away on foot? Are they scared to follow the guy until police can catch up even though he doesn’t even show a weapon. Sounds pretty easy to rob a bank to me.
In a word, yes. They are afraid to try to follow a hold up guy. As they well should be. Just because no weapon is shown, does not mean that one is not present. Why risk your life for somebody else’s money. This money is insured.
The reason that banks no longer have armed guards is to prevent innocent bystanders getting killed. Which is more valuable, money or life?
Why don’t you try it sometime, then.
I’m not that desperate for money Big Don. Just sayin.
I wish the tellers could step on a pedal that opens a trap door so the person just drops into a basement cell until the cops get there.
I know what you mean Joanna, but in today’s screwed up world, the robber would then turn around a sue for injuries, and would likely win. Makes no sense at all.
Oh I know, that’s so true!! Ugh