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Castle Rock bank targeted, again
By Rhonda Moore
New Year’s Eve brought a second robbery attempt to a Castle Rock bank, where, days earlier a robber fled with an undisclosed amount of money.
The US Bank at King Soopers on Founders Parkway was the scene of both crimes, which occurred eight days apart.
The second time was not a charm, however, for the would-be robber, who left empty handed when he was confronted by an alert grocery store employee.
Castle Rock police are investigating the crimes in a joint effort with the FBI, which believes the robbery and attempted robbery were committed by the same person.
The first call came in around 5 p.m., Dec. 23, when Castle Rock police received a report of a robbery in progress.
According to police reports, witnesses say a white male passed a note over the counter. In the note, the man demanded money and reportedly said he had a gun.
The employee gave the suspect a handful of cash and the robber left the area on foot, according to police reports.
The suspect did not display a weapon during the incident and took the note with him when he left, said Scott Claton, Castle Rock police sergeant of investigations. No one was injured during the incident.
An image of the suspect was captured on surveillance tape. He is described as a white male, between 30 and 40 years old and was wearing a fake beard. The surveillance photo shows him with a prominent, protruding stomach.
Witnesses say he was dressed in a gray “hoodie” and sweat pants and was 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing about 250 pounds. Witnesses could not make out the man’s hair color because he pulled the hood over his head.
Investigators said there was no reason to believe the suspect was involved in any other area robberies, Claton said.
That remained true until around 5:15 p.m., New Year’s Eve, when a King Soopers employee observed a suspicious man enter the store. The second suspect was dressed in similar clothing, absent the protruding belly.
Before the man could make it to the teller’s window, a store employee approached him and he left the store on foot. Witnesses did not see what direction he was headed in.
By the time police arrived, officers canvassed the area but could not find the suspect.
Castle Rock police have no physical evidence tying the second suspect to the first crime, said Detective Kal Collins, Castle Rock police. The FBI, however, believes the man is the same suspect from the Dec. 23 robbery, said Kathy Wright, FBI public information officer.
Castle Rock is working the case with the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Street Task Force, which handles violent crimes, crimes against children and bank robberies in Colorado and Wyoming, Wright said.
Agents are seeking information from any witnesses who have yet to come forward.
“Maybe someone saw him going in or going out,” Wright said. “Maybe he looked a little strange and might have caught someone’s eye.”
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Street Task Force at 303-629-7171.
The US Bank at King Soopers on Founders Parkway was the scene of both crimes, which occurred eight days apart.
The second time was not a charm, however, for the would-be robber, who left empty handed when he was confronted by an alert grocery store employee.
Castle Rock police are investigating the crimes in a joint effort with the FBI, which believes the robbery and attempted robbery were committed by the same person.
The first call came in around 5 p.m., Dec. 23, when Castle Rock police received a report of a robbery in progress.
According to police reports, witnesses say a white male passed a note over the counter. In the note, the man demanded money and reportedly said he had a gun.
The employee gave the suspect a handful of cash and the robber left the area on foot, according to police reports.
The suspect did not display a weapon during the incident and took the note with him when he left, said Scott Claton, Castle Rock police sergeant of investigations. No one was injured during the incident.
An image of the suspect was captured on surveillance tape. He is described as a white male, between 30 and 40 years old and was wearing a fake beard. The surveillance photo shows him with a prominent, protruding stomach.
Witnesses say he was dressed in a gray “hoodie” and sweat pants and was 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing about 250 pounds. Witnesses could not make out the man’s hair color because he pulled the hood over his head.
Investigators said there was no reason to believe the suspect was involved in any other area robberies, Claton said.
That remained true until around 5:15 p.m., New Year’s Eve, when a King Soopers employee observed a suspicious man enter the store. The second suspect was dressed in similar clothing, absent the protruding belly.
Before the man could make it to the teller’s window, a store employee approached him and he left the store on foot. Witnesses did not see what direction he was headed in.
By the time police arrived, officers canvassed the area but could not find the suspect.
Castle Rock police have no physical evidence tying the second suspect to the first crime, said Detective Kal Collins, Castle Rock police. The FBI, however, believes the man is the same suspect from the Dec. 23 robbery, said Kathy Wright, FBI public information officer.
Castle Rock is working the case with the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Street Task Force, which handles violent crimes, crimes against children and bank robberies in Colorado and Wyoming, Wright said.
Agents are seeking information from any witnesses who have yet to come forward.
“Maybe someone saw him going in or going out,” Wright said. “Maybe he looked a little strange and might have caught someone’s eye.”
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Street Task Force at 303-629-7171.
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