Dye pack foils 'potbellied' bank robber's third try in two weeks

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jul 29, 2003 | by ANSLEE WILLETT

The "potbellied" bank robber struck for the third time in two weeks but lost his loot Monday when a dye pack in the money bag exploded.

Colorado Springs police have been after the robber since July 17 when he and another man held up Peoples National Bank on Tejon Street.

The large robber, described by witnesses and police as having a pot belly, struck the same bank again a week ago today.

Police could not recall another case in which a robber struck the same bank twice.

The robber has told tellers he has a bomb, but police doubt he is carrying an explosive.

"It's common for them to establish somewhat of a pattern," said robbery detective Dale Fox of the Colorado Springs Police Department. "Usually they don't threaten a bomb. We have had some in the past."

The robber walked into Colorado Springs National Bank on North Nevada Avenue, just north of Fillmore Street, about 10:40 a.m. Monday.

He told the teller he had a bomb in his backpack and said he wanted money, which he stuffed into his bag.

"The teller cooperated, as she should have," Fox said. "We tell them to treat them as a hostile customer and get them out of there as quick as possible."

The dye pack exploded seconds after the robber fled, and he dropped his backpack.

Police did not say how much money was in the bag.

The police bomb squad said no bomb was found in the robber's bag.

The robber, wearing a white-and-black baseball hat, was described as white with scruffy facial growth, about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing about 200 pounds.

A thinner man who helped in the first robbery has not been seen since, police said.

Anyone with information on the robberies is asked to call police at 444-7821 or 444-7869 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 634-STOP.