Foiled at one bank, robber strikes again

Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, July 5, 2006

EVERETT – The bank robber didn’t give up Wednesday when an exploding dye pack destroyed his loot.

Instead, he ditched the tainted cash near the bank he’d just robbed, then went across town and held up another, Everett police Sgt. Boyd Bryant said.

All in the span of 15 minutes.

“Doesn’t happen often,” Bryant said.

The first holdup was at 12:55 p.m. at First Heritage Bank in the 1800 block of Everett Avenue. Police believe the same man hit the Snohomish County PUD Credit Union in the 1300 block of Broadway about 1:10 p.m., Bryant said.

The robber was described as white, in his 30s, about 5 feet 9 inches tall, with facial hair and a slim build. He was wearing a blue sweat suit, a dark baseball cap, sunglasses and tennis shoes.

The man claimed to have a gun when he demanded money from a teller at First Heritage Bank, Bryant said. He ran out with a bag of money, but he dropped it after a dye pack hidden in the money exploded, Bryant said.

Investigators had barely arrived at First Heritage Bank when a robbery was reported at the PUD Credit Union. Security cameras caught the man in the act, Bryant said.

Detectives believe the man may be connected to other bank robberies in the area, Bryant said.

Anyone with information about either robbery is asked to call the Everett Police Department’s tip line at 425-257-8450.

Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.