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Crime

Man robs bank, then vanishes into woods

The lone robber displayed no weapon to bank workers, Hernando County Sheriff's Office officials say, and no one was injured in the incident.

By ASJYLYN LODER
Published April 12, 2007

SPRING HILL -- A man in a nylon running suit robbed a SunTrust bank on U.S. 19 south of Forest Oaks Boulevard Wednesday afternoon, escaping into the nearby woods with an undisclosed amount of cash, authorities said.

The lone robber displayed no weapon to bank workers, according to Donna Black, spokeswoman for the Hernando County Sheriff's Office. There was at least one customer inside the bank during the 3:55 p.m. robbery but no one was injured in the incident.

The suspect is described as 6 feet tall with an olive complexion and facial hair, wearing a blue running suit, sunglasses and a baseball cap.

Witnesses said he ran behind the bank and disappeared into a stand of trees southeast of the building.

Police cars swarmed the bank while puzzled would-be customers eyed the crime scene tape and asked what happened.

On Arrowhead Avenue, which runs behind the bank, residents said they hadn't heard a bank robber was on the loose in their neighborhood.

"That really does scare me," said Gail Norris, "I have an 8-year-old daughter."

Her friend Scott Johnson - who is about 6 feet tall with an olive complexion and a goatee - said, "I guess that's why the cops keep looking at me funny."

Asjylyn Loder can be reached at aloder@sptimes.com or (352) 754-6127.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Anyone with information about this crime can call the Sheriff's Office at (352) 754-6830, or the Hernando County Crime Stoppers hot line at (352) 797-8477.

[Last modified April 11, 2007, 21:28:07]