Downtown Houston bank robbed while choir sings in lobby

The FBI has dubbed this suspect "Ebenezer Scrooge Bandit" in a Dec. 18 robbery of Chase Bank in downtown Houston. The FBI has dubbed this suspect "Ebenezer Scrooge Bandit" in a Dec. 18 robbery of Chase Bank in downtown Houston. Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Downtown Houston bank robbed while choir sings in lobby 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

A man robbed a downtown bank Wednesday as customers were listening to a holiday choir performance, officials said.

Houston FBI spokeswoman Shauna Dunlap said the robbery happened at 11:42 a.m., when a man entered Chase Bank at 712 Main.

"He approached the teller and presented a demand note as well as verbally demanding cash," she said. "He got away with an undisclosed amount."

Nobody was physically hurt during the encounter, and the man was last seen leaving the area on foot, she said.

The man, who is believed to be in his 30s, is described as having a medium build and weighing about 170 pounds.

He was wearing dark pants, a light-colored T-shirt and a black knit hat, Dunlap said.

The agency dubbed the man the "Ebenezer Scrooge" bandit.

The concert, in the bank lobby, was not disrupted during the robbery, she said.

When a robber uses a demand note, she said, others in the bank may be unaware a crime is in progress.

"It's not uncommon that others go about their business and don't realize what has occurred," she said.

A person who works in the office building said by email, "Apparently some guy came in and slid a note to a teller during a holiday choir performance in the lobby. He left with money."

The bank lobby was closed after the robbery, with caution tape near the teller area, the building employee said.

Anyone with information about the robbery should contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.