It’s the type of robbery that raises concern among investigators: the hostile takeover.
In the majority of bank robberies, the robber simply passes a note to a teller at a counter, FBI statistics show. Guns are used in only about one-third of all bank robberies, and even then, the suspects aren’t necessarily taking over the whole bank, the FBI says. The hostile takeover, officials say, implies a readiness to use violence and a need to catch the suspects quickly.
But at about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, two men stormed an M&T Bank at 6304 York Road in Baltimore, authorities said. They were each armed with a semi-automatic handgun and covered their faces with surgical masks.
The two suspects ordered bank employees and customers to the ground, seizing full control of the bank while they grabbed the cash from drawers, authorities said. They fled with an undisclosed amount of money.
No one was injured, and police were unsure about a getaway vehicle. The FBI is investigating.
The two men are described as black with light to medium complexions. They were both of a stocky build and were between 5 feet 9 inches and 6 feet tall, authorities said. Both wore black gloves and light-colored shirts. One man wore a green baseball-style hat, the other a blue or black cap.
Anyone with information on the case should call the FBI Baltimore Field Office at 410-265-8080. For more information about Washington-area bank robberies, visit bankbandits.org.
