North Vancouver RCMP are investigating after a Lynn Valley bank was held up at gunpoint in broad daylight, Wednesday.
Just after 2:30 p.m. a suspect at the CIBC at Lynn Valley Centre handed the teller a note demanding money. He then produced a firearm, according to police.
Police say the teller handed over “an undisclosed amount of money” and the gunman fled. Staff at the bank hit the burglary alarm and police showed up shortly after but the suspect had gotten away.
“As you can imagine, they would be traumatized by the threat of violence and being held up,” said Cpl. Richard De Jong, North Vancouver RCMP spokesman. “He was in and out in probably less than a minute.”
Now investigators are hoping someone from the public can help point them towards the suspect. He is described as a white male, approximately 28 to 35 years old. He has a thin build and stands approximately six-foot-two. He was clean shaven with short, dark hair. He had a tattoo on his neck.
Police are still collecting surveillance footage from cameras in the area.
Actual armed robberies are rare in North Vancouver, De Jong said. “Generally speaking banks are still very safe. These are crimes of opportunity often fuelled by drug addiction.”
Anyone with information about the robbery suspect is asked to call the RCMP’s non-emergency line at 604-985-1311.
