Lawrence police officers remove items from a trash container in an alley in the 700 block between Illinois St. and Mississippi St. after responding to a reported bank robbery at Midwest Regional Credit Union, 1015 W. 6th St., about 12:15 p.m. Wednesday..According to scanner traffic, police are seeking a white male who was last seen on a bicycle, wearing a ski mask and carrying a multicolored backpack with a Kansas Jayhawk logo. An employee at the bank told police that she saw a dye pack that the robber carried away with the money explode in the bag..
Lawrence police responded to a bank robbery early Wednesday afternoon at Midwest Regional Credit Union, 1015 W. Sixth St.
Police are seeking a white male, about 5-foot-7, who was last seen leaving the bank south on Maine Street on a bicycle, wearing a blue KU jacket and carrying a backpack, said Sgt. Trent McKinley, a Lawrence Police Department spokesman.
Bank employees activated an alarm as soon as the man entered the bank, McKinley said, because the man was wearing a ski mask and dark glasses. The man demanded money and bank employees complied, filling the backpack with bills. But the employees also placed an exploding dye pack in the bag, and a witness reported to police that the dye pack burst as the man was leaving the bank. McKinley said the robber's backpack, and possibly his clothing, are likely to be stained with orange or red ink.
Police are still seeking a suspect and are questioning anyone matching the description, McKinley said. About 45 minutes after the 12:15 p.m. robbery, police officers focused on a trash can in an alley in the 700 block of Illinois St., removing some bags and dusting the lid for fingerprints. Police have not yet said what they found.
It is not known whether a weapon was used in the robbery, or if today's incident was related to last Wednesday's robbery of Lawrence Bank, 100 E. Ninth St. McKinley said police are continuing to investigate that robbery as well.
Anyone with information is asked to call 843-TIPS (8477).
• To view recent LJWorld crime stories, click here.
• Click here to view the weekly arrest log.
Comments
loudmouthrealist 2 months, 4 weeks ago
What color was the dye pack? I saw someone completely covered in green dye. I would call it in if I knew the dye was not say, red or blue or yellow!
loudmouthrealist 2 months, 4 weeks ago
OK, they updated and answered my question about the dye color. Good thing I did not call in and report the innocent one covered in green dye. :)
srj 2 months, 4 weeks ago
So this bank was smart enough to put the dye pack in and the other wasn't? Remember, this credit union was robbed not to long ago, so they know the drill.
blindrabbit 2 months, 4 weeks ago
The "green dye" person was just getting ready for St. Paddy's day, bout a month early though. Wondering how much drinking practice they needed.
parrothead8 2 months, 4 weeks ago
This guy was pretty brazen to do this during lunch hour in a busy area. I hope they catch him soon.
Whodathunk 2 months, 4 weeks ago
At last I know what those bicycle cops are for! They must be there to chase bank robbers who are ALSO on bikes. Cops and robbers just keeping thing fair and square.
CMM 2 months, 4 weeks ago
Hopefully this robbery doesn't scare off their one banking customer
SofaKing 2 months, 4 weeks ago
I am so tempted to put red dye all over myself and walk around downtown.
notwhatyouthink 2 months, 4 weeks ago
Yea that's real smart, wast the cop's time by your idiotic games. Like they need anything else to do.
Old_Oread_Phart 2 months, 4 weeks ago
Gotta love those dye-packs!
mikekt 2 months, 4 weeks ago
Well, he's just about the size of the previous camouflage wearing bank robber ?
Also about the size of the Dillon's purse snatcher,... and waring dark KU threads as well ?
I wonder if Stop Sticks would work on a fleeing "bicycle bank robber" covered in dye pack orange or red dye ?
newslovr11 2 months, 2 weeks ago
banks should also have a stash of fake money for these incidents.
Commenting has been disabled for this item.