The robbery is only the second or third bank robbery Lingrell said he could recall in the city in the past 30 years.
The robber did not display a weapon, but told the tellers he had one, police said.
The way the robber walked up to the tellers in the parking lot at the start of the day indicates he knew the schedule of when the bank filled the ATM, Lingrell said.
“Just the way that it came down, I don’t think it was a sudden decision,” he said.
The man fled the bank on foot toward the Southwest Bowling Center behind the bank. Police believe he then got into a getaway car, described as a white Mercury Sable with the license plate FWA 1560.
The car was seen leaving the area southbound on Ohio 54.
Police listed the owner of that vehicle as a “person of interest” but did not identify them. The car had not been stopped by police as of Thursday evening.
The bank said it will review its business procedures and added that the safety of bank associates and customers is its first priority, said Andy Irick, Security National Bank Senior Vice President.
“Safety is paramount for us and (it) is our No. 1 concern,” Irick said.
The bank “constantly” reviews procedures, not just after events like a robbery, he added.
Urbana police respond to an average of eight armed robberies in a year, Lingrell said. Thursday’s bank robbery is a reason to review safety concerns with businesses in town, including other banks, he added.
“Remind them just to switch things up, have extra eyes and ears on what you’re doing and be cognizant of the fact that there’s bad people in the world that want to make you a victim,” he said.
The tellers did the right thing when they complied with the robber’s demand to hand over the cash, Lingrell said.
It is important for employees to keep themselves safe in such a situation and try to remember details of the suspect if they can, he added.
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