Robbery of First National Bank of the Lakes Branch in Orono

On February 17, 2011, at approximately 7:15 a.m., the First National Bank of the Lakes branch located at

2445 Shadywood Road

in Orono, Minnesota, was robbed by a lone masked man. The robber attempted to gain entry to the bank around 7:00 a.m., but he was unsuccessful. A female bank employee arrived at about 7:15 a.m. to enter the bank. The robber approached the employee from behind and told her that he had a gun and that she was being robbed. He also told her that they were going into the bank. The employee and the robber entered the bank together. The employee accessed the night deposit safe and provided the robber with an undisclosed amount of money. The robber then told the employee that they were going to the bathroom. The employee told the robber the bathroom was located in the basement. The robber then told the employee to wait two minutes before calling anyone, and he left the bank through the front door. No vehicle was observed.

The robber did not display a gun, but he did display a small knife. The employee did not sustain any physical injuries. The robber is described as a white male, about 5’9” tall and having a medium build. He wore all dark clothing, to include a dark mask and gloves. He also wore white sneakers. He carried a small blue zippered bank bag.

No surveillance camera pictures are available at this time. The robber may be the same individual who has robbed three or four other banks in the Twin Cities over the past couple of weeks.

Ralph S. Boelter, Special Agent in Charge of the Minneapolis Office of the FBI, requests that anyone with information regarding this bank robbery contact the Minneapolis FBI Office at 612-376-3200, the Orono Police Department at 952/249-4700, or Crime Stoppers at 800/222-8477.

This article was sponsored by Police Books.