May 20, 2013
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – There were some scary moments Wednesday night when a pair of men robbed a West Knoxville bank branch at gunpoint.
The Federal Bureau of investigation said the robbery started around 4:45 p.m. when a pair of black men walked into the BB&T branch on Cedar Bluff, shows handguns and demanded cash.
Surveillance photos taken by bank security cameras captured the “take down” style robbery. Both men wore black clothing including long-sleeved shirts and long pants. They also had on black green gloves, black caps and dark fabric covering their faces.
"They ordered all the employees on the floor and corralled them into an area of the bank and committed a robbery on the bank,” said Mike Maclean with the FBI.
All the bank’s employees were then tied up and the two been managed to escape in a stolen sedan belonging to one of the workers. Investigators located the stolen car several minutes later, in the parking lot of a business at the intersection of Cedar Bluff Road and Old Cedar Bluff Road.
“It's called a switch car,” said Maclean. “They'll take that vehicle, drive it to a ‘clean’ car somewhere and switch back out."
Nearby neighbors quickly learned about the robbery and told Volunteer TV News that they would fear for their safety until the armed and dangerous bank bandits are caught.
"You just don't know when somebody does something like that what else they're going to do," said Barbie Newton, who lives close to where the getaway car was abandoned.
Newton’s next door neighbors are also worried about safety, and keeping an eye on their surroundings.
“It has kind of got me very, very scared,” said Darlene Frederick. “I water my plants, go in and lock my door."
These residents aren't taking any chances, while police look for clues that might help them find these suspects.
A reward is being offered for any information which leads to the arrest of both men.
IF you have any information about the case or may have seen the men abandon silver Honda Accord beside the Aarons Rentals on N. Cedar Bluff Road, please call the Knoxville FBI at (865) 544-0751 or the Knox County Sheriff’s Office at (865) 215-2243.
