LEWISTON – Police saturated the downtown area early Monday searching for a suspect who robbed the Community Credit Union on Pine Street.
No arrest had been made by the end of the day. Police were exploring the possibility that a serial robber is responsible. Monday’s heist was the fourth at a financial institution in less than a month in the Lewiston-Auburn area.
Just after 9 a.m., police were alerted that a lone man had walked into the credit union and demanded money. The man did not display a weapon but indicated that he had one, police said.
Minutes after the robbery, Lewiston police Sgt. Mike Parshall had his officers scouring the downtown area. Several buildings were searched as the officers fanned out over several blocks.
It was not disclosed how much money was taken in the robbery. The credit union was closed while police examined the building for evidence.
Anita, a clerk at Webb’s Market who asked that her last name not be used, said she had gone to the market to get her paycheck and planned to cash it at the credit union across the street.
Witnesses to the heist described the robber as a man, roughly 5 feet, 7 inches tall and medium build. The man had a mustache and was wearing a yellow, hooded coat with blue or black trim, they said.
Like others, Anita suspects the person who held up the credit union might be desperate to finance a substance-abuse problem.
“The drugs around here, it’s bad. People get crazy. You’re on drugs, you’re desperate,” she said. “This neighborhood is poor.”
Gerry Baril, head of the local Maine Drug Enforcement Agency branch in Lewiston, said it’s too early to guess at motivation until suspects are caught.
“This is the Christmas season, this time of year there are more factors involved,” he said. “Let’s not label everything in the community a drug-related crime.”
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to phone Detective Jim Theiss at 795-9000.
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