By Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First,
ALBURGH – The North County Federal Credit Union on South Main Street in Alburgh was robbed by a masked bandit on Thursday afternoon – the fifth bank robbery complaint in northwestern Vermont in two weeks.
The Grand Isle County Sheriff’s Department provided a quick response with three deputies, but the robber fled on foot and is believed to have gotten into a waiting car nearby to leave the area, officials said.
The Vermont State Police also joined in the investigation, which included combing nearby homes and businesses for any security cameras or doorbells with video recordings.
Also working on the case is the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which operates the Chittenden County Gun Violence Task Force. The multi-agency task force has been working on the other four recent bank robbery complaints in Burlington, Winooski, Essex Town and Johnson.
Grand Isle Sheriff Ray Allen said the bandit was wearing a COVID-style mask when he walked into the credit union and used a note to demand money from a teller about 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
He fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. The credit union employees said the man was wearing a winter hat, hoodie and the mask over their face.
The robber was described as a white man, about 5-feet-10-inches with a slender build.
The U.S. Border Patrol, Swanton Police and Vermont Fish and Wildlife had nearby officers flood the area to try to locate the robber, but came away empty handed, Allen said.
Bank security cameras did capture the image of the robber. Investigators are working on getting copies released to the public.
Grand Isle County State’s Attorney Doug DiSabito was summoned to the scene to work with investigators.
The M&T Bank near Susie Wilson Road and Vermont 15 in Essex Town was robbed on Feb. 28 by a lone bandit, Essex Police said. The robber used a note to make his demand from the teller about 4 p.m.
A man, reportedly armed with a handgun, robbed the Union Bank on Main Street in Johnson of a substantial amount of money about 11:30 a.m. on March 5, the Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department reported.
A robber tried to rob the Community Bank on North Avenue in Burlington about 10:18 a.m. Monday, , but he fled without getting any money, police said.
Less than four hours later a bandit entered the Merchants Bank at 348 Main Street in Winooski and handed a note to a teller demanding money, Winooski Police said. He fled with an unknown amount of cash about 1:50 p.m.
Anyone with information or video recordings from the Alburgh robbery is asked to contact the Grand Isle County Sheriff’s Department through 911 or by calling the sheriff’s office at (802) 372-4482 or state police at (802) 524-5993.
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