WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Knife-Wielding Robber Hits Enosburgh Bank

Knife-Wielding Robber Hits Enosburgh Bank

Enosburgh, Vermont - November 13, 2009

TD Bank customers were out of luck once again Friday morning. The bank's Enosburg branch was closed after a man entered the bank and robbed it at knifepoint.

Vt. State Police Det. Sgt. Kirk Cooper explained, "This morning at approximately 11:06 a.m. a single male wearing a brown hoodie, yellow ski-type hat with tassels on the side and a black scarf covering his face entered the TD Bank in Enosburgh Village, brandished a knife and demanded money."

Sound familiar? It should. It's the same scene that's played out at three other Franklin County banks this fall. The first at the TD Bank in Richford on September 25, the second at the Chittenden Bank in St. Albans on October 5, and on October 27th another Chittenden Bank branch was robbed in Swanton. Police believe the suspects in these surveillance photos are the same person.

"We believe this is the same individual that's been involved in at least two or three of them," Cooper said. "He resembles all previous three bank robberies in Franklin County, specifically the Chittenden Bank in Swanton. He appears to be wearing the same hooded sweatshirt and has the same build."

Police canvassed the area on foot Friday with border patrol agents in the air, but no luck catching the thief. He fled on foot, but police believe a car was waiting nearby. Two customers and several employees were in the bank at the time of the robbery, but no one was injured. Nevertheless, residents in this northern Vermont village are on edge.

"It's crazy," said Scott Touchette of Enosburgh. "You would expect this in Burlington you know-- around that area-- a high populate area, but these small little towns getting hit like this. Like I said, it's getting out of control. I hope they catch him, I hope they catch him."

And they're looking for your help to do that.

The Vermont State Police is offering a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest. They believe the suspect lives locally and they are optimistic that someone will come forward with information.

To date, all leads have turned up empty. In the meantime, they are telling all bank employees to continue following safety protocol-- and if they too are robbed, just do as they're asked in order to stay safe.

Again, the suspect is described as a white male in his 20s, about 5'8" with a medium build. He was wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt with a unique skull design on the front, a yellow ski hat with tassels, a black scarf covering part of his face, black gloves that are possibly motocross style with a circular design, and camouflage pants. He was carrying a plastic grocery bag.

Anyone who witnessed the robbery or saw suspicious activity, vehicles or people in or around the bank Friday morning is asked to call the Vermont State Police St. Albans Barracks at 802-524-5993.

Bridget Barry Caswell - WCAX News

Related Stories:

Two Chittenden Banks Robbed

Bank Robbery in Richford