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Two Chittenden Banks Robbed

Swanton, Vermont - October 27, 2009

A manhunt tonight for two armed robbers who held-up two different banks in Vermont.

The bank robberies were just minutes apart at opposite ends of the state.

The first was at about 10 a.m. at the Chittenden Bank in Brattleboro. And a short time later another robber hit the Chittenden in Swanton, 185 miles away.

Local and state police and federal agents posted on the nearby Canadian border were on the scene minutes after the armed stick-up at thru Chittenden branch in Swanton around 10:30 a.m.

"He did brandish a knife, demand money from the tellers, was given an amount of money and did flee the bank on foot," said Lieutenant Brian Miller of the Vermont State Police.

Police say the crook went in the front door, out the back, and disappeared without a trace despite the best efforts of police K-9s and Border Patrol helicopters.

The bank's surveillance camera photos revealed a suspect who is 5'8", 170 pounds, wearing gloves, a white hat under a brown hoodie-type sweatshirt with a skull symbol and a red bandanna mask. The police were not at all surprised that the robber appeared to be someone they had seen before.

"Obviously there are similarities between the two robberies that we have had in this county this month and last," said Miller.

Police suspect the Swanton bank robber could be the same guy who was caught on camera three weeks ago holding up the Chittenden branch in St. Albans at knife point, and the same robber who stuck-up the TD Bank in Richford on September 25th.

Less than 20 minutes before the bank robbery at the Chittenden Bank in Swanton, another bank robber was knocking over another Chittenden Bank in Brattleboro.

Police say the Brattleboro robber packed a gun, disguised his face, and appeared to be in his early 20's between 5'10" to 6'2", and weighed about 200 pounds. He also made a clean getaway on foot.

"The FBI have come down from Rutland and they are assisting in the investigation. The Windham County Sheriff's Department and the State Police swung by and they started canvassing the neighborhood with us. We have spoken to a large number of retailers and residential housing," said Detective Erik Johnson of the Brattleboro Police Department.

Police say crime stoppers cash rewards are being offered for information leading to the identification and arrest of either of the bank robbers.

There have been six bank robberies in Vermont so far this year. Police have arrested and charged suspects for two of them.

Brian Joyce - WCAX News