Masked men storm Lakewood bank branch, flee with cash
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LAKEWOOD, Wash. - Three masked men stormed a US Bank branch Thursday in Lakewood in a well-orchestrated takeover-style robbery, ordering customers and employees to the floor before making off with an undisclosed amount of cash, police said.
The suspects then fled the bank in a stolen Buick, which they ditched a few blocks away before fleeing in another vehicle described as a white SUV. The suspects remain at large.
Officers rushed to the scene, the US Bank at 9310 Bridgeport Way SW, at about 9:25 a.m. after receiving reports of a robbery in progress, said Lt. Chris Lawler of the Lakewood police. The robbers were gone when police arrived.
Witnesses told police that three men had burst into the bank wearing masks. They ordered everyone to the floor, jumped over the counter and grabbed cash. At least one of the men was armed with a handgun, Lawler said.
As the robbers fled the bank, they ran to a light blue Buick parked nearby and sped away.
Another witness contacted police later to say three men were seen abandoning the Buick in an alley a few blocks away. The threesome then jumped into a white SUV and took off at high speed.
Lawler said no one was hurt during the robbery and no shots were fired, but customers were shaken up.
"Yelling, screaming, more than one suspect - it was probably a frightening event," Lawler said. He said police are reviewing surveillance video of the robbery. Police noticed the robbers appeared bulky, perhaps wearing bullet-proof vests or extra clothes to change appearances.
Lawler also said Tacoma police are also investigating a separate bank robbery involving a white SUV as a getaway vehicle, and Lakewood detectives are checking to see if there is any relationship between the two robberies.
A dye pack exploded on the suspected robber and he was arrested still inside the car. Police say he's connected to the robbery of the Heritage Bank in Tacoma, and they're checking to see if he's related to the Lakewood robbery.
The suspects then fled the bank in a stolen Buick, which they ditched a few blocks away before fleeing in another vehicle described as a white SUV. The suspects remain at large.
Officers rushed to the scene, the US Bank at 9310 Bridgeport Way SW, at about 9:25 a.m. after receiving reports of a robbery in progress, said Lt. Chris Lawler of the Lakewood police. The robbers were gone when police arrived.
Witnesses told police that three men had burst into the bank wearing masks. They ordered everyone to the floor, jumped over the counter and grabbed cash. At least one of the men was armed with a handgun, Lawler said.
As the robbers fled the bank, they ran to a light blue Buick parked nearby and sped away.
Another witness contacted police later to say three men were seen abandoning the Buick in an alley a few blocks away. The threesome then jumped into a white SUV and took off at high speed.
Lawler said no one was hurt during the robbery and no shots were fired, but customers were shaken up.
"Yelling, screaming, more than one suspect - it was probably a frightening event," Lawler said. He said police are reviewing surveillance video of the robbery. Police noticed the robbers appeared bulky, perhaps wearing bullet-proof vests or extra clothes to change appearances.
Lawler also said Tacoma police are also investigating a separate bank robbery involving a white SUV as a getaway vehicle, and Lakewood detectives are checking to see if there is any relationship between the two robberies.
A dye pack exploded on the suspected robber and he was arrested still inside the car. Police say he's connected to the robbery of the Heritage Bank in Tacoma, and they're checking to see if he's related to the Lakewood robbery.
I get that they can't release the audio but why not tell us possible race, if they had broken english etc..
I guess the customers just weren't in the mood for being ordered around by criminal thugs. I din't see anyone on the floor in any of those photos. In fact, one lady was looking down at her hand held device instead of keeping her eyes on the bad guys. I only hope she was using it to send out an all points bulletin.
can someone explain to me why the cops/media dont release the audio if the robbers were screaming and yelling? Â Seem like a good way to recognize someone whos covered up.
@deeznutz I believe because of wiretapping laws, audio can't be released. That's why burglary/robbery videos never have sound. They either don't do audio or they take out the audio.
Why do the pics remind me of the Olympic games? Â All sprinting in and they nailed those teller cage high-jumps...whoa!
Armed guards at the door requiring all head apparal removed (sorry Muslim ladies), pictures taken and quick fingerprint scans before you get any farther. That'll stop it.
@I Like Meat Or metal detectors that are connected to the doors and if metal is detected the door won't open until a guard checks things out.Â
Greedy banks ruined the American economy in the first place. Â Now they better give some back to the society. Â I'm just sayin...
A bank in Lakewood that doesn't have tellers behind bulletproof glass? That's asking for trouble, fellas.
We need to adopt the european bank security design- drop down wall to protect the tellers and auto lock doors.
"Hopefully they won't hit again," he said.
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Since when is "hope" a valid plan?  Oh...that's right... Three year of hope, and how's that working out?
Â
/snark
He looks like so hungry of money ! Dang it...he did not get shot !
im sure they have already spent their loot on guns, crack, and old E.Â
 @Willy Lee Or on guns, child porn and Bud Light.
Bud Light Lime
it must been frightening for customers and bank employees. Â i'm glad no one was hurt.
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"Hopefully they won't hit again," he said.
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If these robbers were indeed involved in another robbery, sounds to me like they won't stop until they get caught.
Where are the pictures? Someone might be able to recognize them, even with the masks on.
Man, this gives a new meaning to 'Hostile Takeover' in the financial world.
Glad nobody was hurt. Hope the ad guys are caught quickly so that nobody else is terrorized.