Oct 6, 2016 2 min read

Washington police are investigating a robbery at a downtown cellphone store and the attempted robbery of a Tylerdale bank at midday Thursday.

Detective Dan Rush said a black man with short dreadlocks and wearing a dark, hooded shirt robbed the Metro PCS store, 57 N. Main St., at gunpoint.

A short time later, at about 11:40 a.m., a man tried to rob the Washington Financial branch at 98 E. Wylie Ave., but was unable to get into the lobby because the door was locked, Rush said.

The bank put in place extra security measures after several previous robberies, the most recent on Feb. 29. The door is kept locked and patrons must use their bank card to unlock the lobby door.

“You can see him grab the door handle,” Rush said of the robber, who was seen on surveillance video. “He then turns and leaves. He may have had a gun because it looks like he is stuffing something down inside his pants as he walks away.”

Rush said the would-be bank robber was white, about 5 feet, 9 inches tall with a slim to medium build. He wore a red bandana over the bottom of his face and may have been wearing sunglasses. A description radioed to area police said that the suspect was wearing a gray T-shirt, gray hooded sweatshirt and dark jeans.

Rush said the robber he ran in the direction of Jefferson Avenue. Witnesses told police that he got into a white Pontiac, but Rush said that has not been verified. He said police were getting additional surveillance from the bank and also are trying to secure surveillance from businesses in the area.

The robber at the cellphone store stole cash and a wallet. Rush said he fled on foot, going north on North Main. Police are also obtaining surveillance video in that robbery.

Anyone with information is asked to call Washington police at 724-223-4226 or 911.