Vt. bank hit for 3rd time in a year

SOUTH BURLINGTON — Police say a bandit on a bicycle is responsible for the third robbery in a year for an unlucky bank in Vermont.

South Burlington Chief Trevor Whipple said the robber walked into the People’s United Bank on Dorset Street on Thursday afternoon.

“He walked immediately up to the counter, brandished what appeared to be a small automatic (or) semi-automatic hand gun and demanded that the teller put all her money on the counter,” Whipple told WPTZ-TV.

The man then quietly walked out the front door with the cash and took off in the direction of University Mall on his bicycle, the chief said. He is described as a tall, slender black male with a prominent jawline. He also appeared to have black circular and wavy tattoos all down his right arm.

Whipple said it’s not known why the bank has been targeted so many times, but he said the bank’s management has made security upgrades since the last robbery.

The chief said the cameras were added at the request of police, and they clearly showed the suspect arriving and leaving on a bicycle. He said he hopes the high-quality images of the robber will aid in finding and convicting the suspect.