Police say a 49-year-old Utica man armed with a toilet plunger (like the one pictured her) attempted to rob a central New York bank Thursday CBS/WHPTV

(CBS/AP) UTICA, N.Y. - Police say a 49-year-old Utica man attempted to rob a central New York bank Thursday, armed with a toilet plunger.

Police say Lawrence Deptola went into a bank Thursday afternoon and threatened a teller with the plunger.



The Utica Observer-Dispatch reports authorities responded at around 1:30 p.m. after two other banks had called authorities about a suspicious man entering their premises.

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According to NBC affiliate WKTV, bank employees said the man came in and began yelling obscenities. He then asked tellers to put the money in a bag.

Officers saw Deptola walking away, and when the suspect noticed they were following him, he ran away. Police chased him on foot. He was then apprehended and charged with attempted third-degree robbery.

WKTV reports that the plunger was recovered inside a Citizens Bank.