SANFORD — A lone man reportedly dressed like the “grim reaper” walked into the Springvale branch of Sanford Institution for Savings at about 3:15 p.m. Monday and demanded money.
He was given some, and he ran away.
No one was injured, said Deputy Police Chief Craig Sanford. The man did not display a weapon and did not imply than he had one, Sanford said.
Police said witnesses told them that the man, about 6 feet, 2 inches and 200 pounds, entered the bank wearing a dark-colored hood and a dark mask.
“They said he looked like the grim reaper. The only thing he was missing was the scythe,” said Sanford this morning.
He said the man “mumbled” that he wanted money, was given an undetermined amount of cash and left the bank premises.
Police believe the robber may have bright-color paint on his skin or clothing caused by bank security measures. Bank workers typically slip dye packs into currency that can release paint, according to online encyclopedias. The dye pack activated as the robber was running away, Sanford said.
Cruisers patrolled neighborhoods in the general vicinity of the bank Monday afternoon looking for those who met the description, but were unsuccessful.
Sanford said in cases such as the SIS robbery, the robber usually has someone waiting in a car a street or two away, but whether that is the case in this situation is unknown.
Anyone with information is asked to call Sanford Police at 324-3644.
This is the second bank robbery in Sanford in a year. In December, Dane Bosley, 22, of Sanford was sentenced to 32 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release in connection with an armed robbery of the Maine Bank and Trust in south Sanford in February 2010.
According to federal authorities, Bosley approached a teller, displayed what police described as a long gun, and told tellers they had 45 seconds to give him $25,000 or he would start shooting. He made away with $3,600 in cash, but was apprehended by Sanford Police in March following a scuffle.
— Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 or twells@journaltribune.com.
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