Friday, November 17, 2000
Friday, November 17, 2000 |
|
Armed robbers get away from Talbot State Bank
By JOHN
MUNFORD
Two armed men fled Talbot State Bank on Ga. Highway 138 with an undisclosed amount of cash Tuesday afternoon after locking bank employees in the vault, according to authorities. The men, who were still at large Thursday afternoon, were black males wearing masks, said Maj. Bruce Jordan of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department. One of the assailants had a "street sweeper" shotgun, an illegal weapon with a large cylinder that holds 12 rounds, Jordan said. The other suspect had a handgun, he added. The "street sweeper" shotgun could provide a break in the case. Jordan said investigators are asking the person who sold the gun to step forward and contact the Sheriff's Department at 770-461-6353. The incident was recorded by security cameras and the tape has been given to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is conducting the joint investigation with the Sheriff's Department, Jordan said. A reward is being offered for information leading to the identification of the men responsible for this robbery, according to the FBI. Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff's office or the FBI's Bank Robbery Squad at 404-679-9000. The FBI described the two men as follows: A black male, dark complexion; 5'8" to 5'10" tall, 170-180 pounds in his late 20s or early 30s and wearing blue jeans, a dark sweat shirt with writing, black gloves and a baseball cap. A black male, 6'0" to 6'2" tall, 180-200 pounds in his late 20s or early 30s and wearing blue jeans and a sweatshirt with writing and a baseball cap with writing. When the pair entered the bank at 1:15 p.m., one suspect stood guard at the entrance while the other ushered the employees into the bank's vault. The money that was taken came from the vault and not the cash drawers of tellers, Jordan said. After the vault was looted, the employees were locked inside, Jordan added. One of the employees had a key to the vault and was able to open the doors after the suspects left, Jordan said. The bank alarm was not activated until after the employees escaped the vault, he added. The pair left the bank in a white Cadillac which they dumped in a secluded area several blocks away and set on fire, Jordan said. After that, the pair got away in a red Pontiac, according to a witness. The witness wasn't able to provide a better description of that car or the vehicle's license plate, Jordan added. "That's the only description we've got," Jordan said.
|