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DUANE BOURNEOfficials say the man was in and out in four minutes and went down Fort Dade Avenue on a silver and black bicycle.
BROOKSVILLE - Just weeks after a man walked into a SunTrust Bank in Spring Hill and demanded money at knifepoint, another SunTrust branch, in downtown Brooksville, was robbed Monday.
This time, the unidentified man did not brandish a weapon or say he had one. And Brooksville Police believe he rode away on a bicycle.
"He was just in and out within four minutes," said Detective Rick Hankins.
Shortly after noon, the man walked into the SunTrust Bank at 1 E Jefferson St., passed the teller a note and demanded money.
Within two minutes of receiving the call, Brooksville Police swarmed the area, but their search for the suspect was unsuccessful.
Police described the man as white, standing 5-foot-10, weighing about 160 pounds and possibly having a scar on his left cheek close to his mouth. He wore a dark-colored T-shirt.
Hankins said witnesses saw the man leave the north entrance to the bank and ride east on Fort Dade Avenue on a silver and black bicycle.
Four customers and three tellers were in the bank at the time of the robbery, Hankins said. They were not injured.
Monday's holdup was the fifth reported robbery of a SunTrust Bank in Hernando County since the beginning of 2001.
Last month, Lester Berki of Spring Hill was arrested after authorities said he approached a teller at the SunTrust Bank at 1170 Mariner Blvd. in Spring Hill, flashed a knife and demanded money.
Berki, 40, tried to drive away from the scene, but the congested traffic slowed him down enough for authorities to apprehend him.
Brooksville Police asked anyone who witnessed Monday's robbery to contact them by calling the anonymous tip line at 754-6825 or Detective Eddie McConnell at 754-6800.
- Duane Bourne covers law enforcement and emergency services in Hernando County and can be reached at 754-6114. Send e-mail to dbourne@sptimes.com