Hillsdale Bank Robbed
Juliana D'Amico
Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: News
The last bank robbery in Hillsdale, Mich., happened in 1993. That changed Monday.
At approximately 2:57 p.m., police were notified that Monarch Community Bank at the corner of West Street and Carleton Road had been robbed.
Police released a description of the suspect as a white male approximately 50 to 55 years old, of medium build, 5'8" tall, and 180 pounds. The suspect claimed to be armed, and he remains at large.
"The subject entered the bank [and] proceeded to go to a teller window," said Hillsdale City Director of Public Safety Chris Gutowski. "At that time, he displayed a sheet of paper indicating there is a gun and he wanted large bills."
Fortunately, Gutowski said, there were no customers in the bank at the time of the robbery, and no one was injured.
"No weapon was shown," Gutowski said.
Gutowski said throughout the incident, the robber was very quiet.
"He only said one word," Gutowski said.
When the bank teller ran out of fifty dollar bills, the man said, "20s."
He took the money in his fist and walked out of the bank, across the street, and drove away.
Within a few minutes of the 911 call, Hillsdale city police were on the scene.
"That's the pleasure of having our own police department," said Hillsdale Mayor Michael Sessions. "We're able to respond to calls quickly."
Gutowski said he was pleased with the quick response, and the police department is in the process of getting the photographs from a nearby ATM security camera analyzed.
Sessions said city and state police, as well as the FBI, are cooperating in the search.
"We've met with the FBI," Gutowski said. "We're finding out that there are similarities [to a few bank robberies across northwestern Ohio and southern Michigan]."
Meanwhile, Gutowski said, he is hoping to use the media to increase public awareness and to help solve this case.
"I believe the individual will be caught soon," Sessions said.
At approximately 2:57 p.m., police were notified that Monarch Community Bank at the corner of West Street and Carleton Road had been robbed.
Police released a description of the suspect as a white male approximately 50 to 55 years old, of medium build, 5'8" tall, and 180 pounds. The suspect claimed to be armed, and he remains at large.
"The subject entered the bank [and] proceeded to go to a teller window," said Hillsdale City Director of Public Safety Chris Gutowski. "At that time, he displayed a sheet of paper indicating there is a gun and he wanted large bills."
Fortunately, Gutowski said, there were no customers in the bank at the time of the robbery, and no one was injured.
"No weapon was shown," Gutowski said.
Gutowski said throughout the incident, the robber was very quiet.
"He only said one word," Gutowski said.
When the bank teller ran out of fifty dollar bills, the man said, "20s."
He took the money in his fist and walked out of the bank, across the street, and drove away.
Within a few minutes of the 911 call, Hillsdale city police were on the scene.
"That's the pleasure of having our own police department," said Hillsdale Mayor Michael Sessions. "We're able to respond to calls quickly."
Gutowski said he was pleased with the quick response, and the police department is in the process of getting the photographs from a nearby ATM security camera analyzed.
Sessions said city and state police, as well as the FBI, are cooperating in the search.
"We've met with the FBI," Gutowski said. "We're finding out that there are similarities [to a few bank robberies across northwestern Ohio and southern Michigan]."
Meanwhile, Gutowski said, he is hoping to use the media to increase public awareness and to help solve this case.
"I believe the individual will be caught soon," Sessions said.
Be the first to comment on this story