Pick Six: Masked robber suspected in another bank heist

Star Tribune

Last update: December 31, 2008 - 8:34 PM

Six. That's the number of bank robberies in the east metro area the FBI says a man has attempted since August.

The latest happened Tuesday morning when the masked bandit approached tellers reporting for work just before 7 at the Wells Fargo Bank on the 1800 block of Grand Avenue in St. Paul. He flashed a black handgun and ordered the tellers inside, where he demanded money. One teller gave the robber money from her handbag, and the man fled, said E.K. Wilson, an FBI spokesman.

The robber is described as a black man, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and in his 20s or early 30s. On Tuesday he was wearing a black jacket or hooded sweatshirt, black pants, black shoes and black fabric gloves. The black ski mask had a white covering over his eyes and mouth, Wilson said.

The robber is suspected of heists or attempted heists at the Cherokee State Bank at 985 Grand Av., St. Paul, on Aug. 27 and Nov. 26; the U.S. Bank at 1950 Burns Av., St. Paul, on Oct. 26; the U.S. Bank branch at 711 Cleveland Av. S., St. Paul, on Nov. 14, and the Northern American Banking Co. at 9260 Hudson Road in Woodbury on Dec. 2. All happened in the early morning hours.

A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the robber. Anyone with information can call the FBI tip line at 612-376-3200.

TIM HARLOW