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Man jumps counter during bank robbery
Cheektowaga police continue to seek two suspects following a Tuesday morning robbery of a First Niagara Bank branch in which one of the robbers jumped over the counter of the Dick Road financial institution. The robbery occurred at 9:27 a.m. when a male entered the bank at 570 Dick Road and jumped over two security gates to gain access to the teller area. He then pushed a bank teller and ordered her to get back.
"(The robber) then removed cash from three drawers, putting the money into what was described as a black bag," said Captain John Glascott.
The man stumbled while jumping back over the counter and may have injured a leg in the process, appearing to be limping as he fled the building.
No weapon was displayed.
The robber then ran westbound into the parking lot and entered a champagne-colored 1990s GMC suburban vehicle with black trim, operated by a second male. Glascott said the vehicle, which was last seen fleeing westbound, may be a GMC Envoy.
"We'll process the scene and talk with other local agencies to see if there's any similar [robberies]," Glascott said, adding police recovered physical evidence from the scene.
The robber was described as a black male, wearing a black sweatshirt, with the hood zipped tightly over his head, exposing very little of his face. The man also wore a reddish-brown scarf or cloth over his mouth.
According to police reports, the suspect who entered the bank wore black windbreaker-style pants and sneakers with "white and camouflage on them."
The driver of the getaway vehicle was also described as a black man.
In the minutes after the crime, police checked common escape routes, including Genesee Street and the Kensington Expressway, but could not locate the escape vehicle.
During the height of the search, Cheektowaga police stopped a vehicle that matched the description of the getaway vehicle on Delavan Avenue near Marne Road. However, the vehicle and its driver was not related to the crime.
Persons with information are asked to call the Cheektowaga Police Detective Division at (716) 686- 3505.
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