One Day: One Successful, One Attempted Bank Robbery

Howard County Police and the FBI are working together on the successful one of two attempted bank robberies that occurred in the county on the same day. 

Police spokeswoman Elizabeth Shroen said the FBI may take the lead on the investigation into a Nov. 7 armed robbery. According to police, two suspects entered the Wells Fargo bank at 9230 Baltimore National Pike at about 11 a.m. 

According to police, the two suspects showed guns and approached the tellers, stealing cash. There were customers in the bank at the time of the robbery, Schroen said; they complied with the suspects’ demands and were not injured.

Earlier that day, at about 9:40 a.m., a masked man entered the PNC bank at 15920 Frederick Road in Woodbine, according to police. The suspect approached the teller and demanded cash but, according to police, the teller refused to hand over money and the suspect fled.

Police say the suspect is a white man, 6 ft., with an average-to-heavy build. He was wearing a black mask, a black or navy blue shirt with thick, horizontal red stripes and dark jeans.

He walked with a limp and, according to police, when he left the bank he took the mask off, revealing long, curly gray hair that was balding on top.

“It is unusual,” Schroen said about two attempted bank robberies on the same day, “but we’re pretty certain they are unrelated." 

As with all potentially violent crimes, Schroen said the police department encourages people to comply, and, “don’t try to fight back; personal property is not worth your life.” 

This article has been edited to indicate that only one of the two attempted robberies was successful.