Bank Robbery Suspect Sought By Austin Police

AUSTIN, TX — Police on Thursday sought help from the public in identifying a bank robbery suspect following a weekend heist.

The incident occurred just before 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4, at the Chase Bank branch located at 5700 W. Slaughter Lane. According to a police advisory, the suspect entered the bank while displaying a firearm and demanding money.

The suspect then fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash. No injuries were reported.

Police described the suspect as standing between five feet, nine inches and five feet, eleven inches in height, with an average build. He was last seen wearing a motor cross, full-face helmet, googles, dark sweatshirt, black/gray gloves and dark pants. A surveillance camera image was released to enhance the chances of someone might recognize him and alert police.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the APD Robbery tip line at (512) 974-5092, Crime Stoppers at (512) 472-TIPS or use the new Crime Stoppers App. Those with information also can submit tips by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, for free on iPhone and Android.

The banking industry in Austin has been beset by robberies in recent months, with 21 such crimes committed last year. Chase Bank has not been immune to such crime, with several of its branches hit over the course of 2019. In one instance late last year, the Chase Bank branch at 1904 Guadalupe St., across from the University of Texas at Austin, was hit twice in as many weeks.

A short distance from that twice-hit branch, Chase Bank recently opened a new site at 2514 Guadalupe St. where the popular Thai food restaurant Madame Mam's — now relocated to 510 W. 26th St. — long stood. Patch recently visited the expansive space, where bank tellers now work behind bullet-proof glass not available in the former iteration of the Guadalupe Street branch just a few doors down. It's unclear, however, if the bolstered security was added as a result of local criminal activity.