LEWISTON – Police with tracking dogs scoured the Sabattus Street area Friday after a man walked into Auburn Savings and Loan demanding money just after 9 a.m.
No one was hurt in the morning heist, but police surrounded the building after they were called there for the stickup.
Police searched the neighborhood around St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center and sent investigators inside the building to search for the suspect. The check was precautionary, police said; no evidence was found indicating the robber had gone inside the building.
The man remained at large Friday afternoon. He was seen fleeing the bank on foot.
Bank President Allen Sterling said it was the first time the bank had been robbed in 33 years in business.
Witnesses described a tense scene around the bank, with police officers blocking exits outside the bank and others searching the area with police dogs.
Other officers went to St. Mary’s and searched the building on the chance that the suspect had run inside the hospital. Detectives went to the hospital later to interview possible witnesses about the heist.
The suspect went into the bank wearing a thick jacket, a cap and sunglasses, police said. He approached a teller and demanded money. No weapon was displayed. Investigators said the bank employee handed over cash and the suspect left the building.
Police did not say what evidence they found around the bank or what information they got from witnesses in the busy section of the city.
“We do have some leads and we’re following up on those,” said police Lt. Michael McGonagle.
Police were also looking into the possibility that the heist was connected to several others in the area in recent months.
Friday’s robbery was the fourth in the Lewiston-Auburn area since mid-November. In each case, a lone suspect entered a bank or credit union and demanded money without showing a weapon. In each heist, police circulated composite sketches or photographs from security cameras.
Other robberies of a similar nature have been reported recently in Portland, Freeport and surrounding cities and towns. Police in Lewiston and Auburn have been exchanging information with departments in those areas.
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