South Burlington bank robbed again

Haley Dover | Free Press Staff Writer

Show Caption Hide Caption South Burlington bank robbed twice in two weeks Just before 9:30 a.m., the South Burlington Police Department received a bank alarm from Merchants Bank located 929 Shelburne Road, Chief Trevor Whipple said, marking the second robbery at this branch in two weeks.

For the second time in two weeks the Merchants Bank at 929 Shelburne Road in South Burlington has been robbed.

Just before 9:30 a.m. the South Burlington Police Department received a bank alarm from the bank, which is located in front of the Kmart store, Chief Trevor Whipple said.

The suspect did not show a weapon at the scene and took an undisclosed amount of cash, Whipple said.

Police brought a K-9 unit to investigate the crime scene.

Seven police cruisers were parked outside of the bank Monday morning as people drove by slowly, taking in the scene. One witness stopped at the crime scene to tell Whipple what she had seen in the woods nearby.

Whipple said other witnesses have been phoning into the station throughout the morning.

"We're talking to people who may have seen something," he said. " This is an evolving situation."

He said there are several similarities between the current suspect and the suspect from the robbery at the same bank on Nov. 24., both of whom fled on bicycle. Police say the suspect is a white male in his 20's, 5-feet-9 or 5-feet-10 tall, wearing a black hoodie, and a black and red flannel jacket.

"There is a reason for us to think about that," he said. "I can't say at this point that yes it is the same person, but it is something that I would consider."

Police have received reports of an abandoned bicycle in the area, Whipple said.

Whipple said police will continue to canvas the area in search of the suspect, including a stop at the homeless encampment behind the Kmart building and neighboring businesses that may have caught images of the suspect on security cameras.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the South Burlington Police Department at 802-846-4111.

Free Press staff writer Aki Soga contributed to this report.

Significant police presence at scene of robbery at Merchants Bank on Shelburne Road S. Burlington including K9 #btv A photo posted by Aki Soga (@msogavt) on Dec 7, 2015 at 7:35am PST