Pair sought in heist at Bedford credit union
7/17/2009TEMPERANCE - Two masked men brandishing guns yesterday fled from the Monroe County Community Credit Union in Bedford Township with a backpack of money but tossed the cash from a stolen car after a dye pack exploded, authorities said.
Monroe County sheriff's deputies said two men entered the credit union in the 7400 block of Lewis Avenue about 9:35 a.m.
The robbers, who were wearing gloves and ski masks, demanded cash. Both were carrying silver handguns, said Lt. David Kotke of the sheriff's office.
While the robbers were inside the bank, a customer who was parked at its drive-through saw the robbery and chased the suspects when they fled in a maroon Pontiac Bonneville.
The customer called 911 and pursued the vehicle as it fled south on Lewis and saw the suspects park the car at a residence in the 6100 block of Lewis in Toledo, near the state line.
Lieutenant Kotke said the robbers tossed a backpack containing cash taken in the holdup from the car about a quarter mile from the bank.
The backpack and money were recovered.
Sheriff's deputies and FBI agents searched the area near where the suspect's car was left, locating ski masks and gloves near Gribben Lane in Toledo, Lieutenant Kotke said.
A search dog was brought to the area, but the men were not found.
There were an unspecified number of employees and customers in the bank during the robbery, authorities said.