Police Seek Suspect in Armed Bank Robbery That Prompted Schools to Shelter in Place

An armed bank robbery put a neighborhood on alert and four schools to shelter in place Friday afternoon in Arlington, Massachusetts.

The Winchester Savings Bank was robbed around 1:30 p.m. The armed robber, police say, took off.

Arlington Police Chief Frederick Ryan says the suspect seen in a surveillance photo showed a black handgun.

He got away with cash.

Police say he left behind articles of clothing as he made his getaway, apparently on foot. Investigators now have that evidence.

"There was a young lady gardening right here at a home behind the bank who got a good eye on suspect," said Ryan. "The suspect came so close to her, she was able to smell the odor of the dye pack."

Officials released this sketch of the suspect:

[[333403891, C]]

Ryan says because the robber had a gun, as police and K-9s combed the neighborhood, they told people to get inside and lock their doors. Three nearby elementary schools and a high school were put in a shelter-in-place order.

The schools were dismissed around 2:20 p.m.

No arrests have yet been made.

Stay with necn as this story develops.

Contact Us