Update: KeyBank robbed in The Junction, 3rd time in 1 year

| Crime | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

ORIGINAL 3:28 PM REPORT: From the scanner, and we’re on our way to find out more in person: There’s a report of a bank robbery in The Junction – the address checks to KeyBank at California/Alaska. 3:35 PM UPDATE: The description police are giving out so far: 35-year-old woman, white, about 5-4, slim, shoulder-length black hair, black glasses, black knit cap, black wool jacket, black scarf with red flowers and green leaves, put the money in a “B of A bag,” headed west on Alaska. At the scene, we’re seeing a “temporarily closed” sign on the bank door, with investigators inside.

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli, added 4:47 pm)
3:50 PM UPDATE: We’ve talked to police on the scene; no new description info but we did find out that the robber claimed to have a weapon, though none was actually seen. We’ll also be checking with the FBI to see if they’ll distribute a surveillance photo, as they often do after holdups. (Our archives show at least two holdups at this bank last year – April and August.) 5:03 PM NOTE: Got a question about a damaged police car “near the entrance to (The Bridge)” – according to the scanner watch at CentralDistrictNews.com, an officer crashed while rushing to help with the robbery response here. 8:38 PM: Casey sent a photo snapped while driving by that car:

Meantime, no new info in the search for the bank robber.

BN April 5, 2010 (3:33 pm)

All the police cars and the lock doors indicate Key Bank (again).

Travis_Bickle April 5, 2010 (3:38 pm)

i hear it…go get her!

todd_ April 5, 2010 (4:06 pm)

Chopper hovering around CA and Andover..

ad April 5, 2010 (4:08 pm)

I hear the helicopter…

WSB April 5, 2010 (4:20 pm)

Todd, you seeing any ground action? I’ve been listening to the scanner and not hearing anything. However, much police discussion takes place via computers, phone, etc. … so it’s not all on the scanner any more – TR

todd_ April 5, 2010 (4:45 pm)

I didn’t see any ground activity and the helicopter left a few minutes after I posted.

WSB April 5, 2010 (4:54 pm)

Thanks. A William unit was out *somewhere* on a burglary with a loud alarm in the background of the radio transmissions and I wondered if that might have been related …

Mike in the Junction April 5, 2010 (4:59 pm)

3 times in the past year. I have lived in the junction 6 of the past 8 years, and can remember at least a couple more robberies in those years. Why does this bank get robbed so much?

Baba April 5, 2010 (5:19 pm)

Any info on a loot amount?

WSB April 5, 2010 (5:28 pm)

That, they never say. Until and unless it turns up in the filing of charges later.

marty April 5, 2010 (6:14 pm)

Robbing banks: It’s no longer a sexist profession!

sheila April 5, 2010 (6:48 pm)

Hackers have gotten into Key Bank’s system, too. My PIN number for debit card was stolen. That was scary. Key Bank needs to do something if they are being robbed from inside and out!!!

JanS April 5, 2010 (7:40 pm)

Let’s see…bank was robbed a year ago in April…..maybe she was just celebrating the one year anniversary

Travis_Bickle April 5, 2010 (7:49 pm)

with all the $$$ they have in that place, it seems that a few $$ for an armed security would be the smart thing. Wait, this is W.Seattle, where we just lay back and take it.

WSB April 5, 2010 (7:59 pm)

Travis, unless you work there and have inside knowledge – I don’t think we know that they DON’T have armed security in there. Maybe they don’t, maybe they do. We also don’t know how fast this happened, how obvious it was that a robbery is in progress – those details are seldom made available. The surveillance photo has not yet been made available either, so far as I can tell; will be checking with the FBI again tomorrow – TR

dollarbills April 5, 2010 (8:49 pm)

Good God that SPD car – looks like the axle broke. Is it just me or does it seem like West Seattle has the most bank robberies? It would be interesting to know if that is true.

LyndaB April 5, 2010 (9:35 pm)

i drove by that, too. by the looks of the squad car, i’m glad the officer was eager to get to the scene but that looks really bad.

4thGenWestSide April 5, 2010 (9:37 pm)

Probably will cost more to fix the police car than what was stolen.

Rainierbrock April 5, 2010 (9:51 pm)

Was there any info on the vehicle?

Travis_Bickle April 6, 2010 (1:50 pm)

-3rd time in 1 year. I think THAT statistic alone should be a red flag that their system of security ISN’T working.

Garden_nymph April 6, 2010 (6:40 pm)

Is the officer involved in the car crash OK?

ArborHeightsMom April 6, 2010 (7:50 pm)

I actually think all banks are vulnerable. This branch is so great and all the tellers are so friendly and helpful, I’m sorry to see it.

Stealthy Chihuahua April 7, 2010 (12:54 pm)

An SPD is sometimes there at that corner catching folks making illegal turns.I think that instead of having just cameras they need a rent a cop there just watching like they do on the “OTHER” side of 35th (Delridge.)He can be armed with an Ipad and give updates to all you bloggers who don’t have a “Job”and serve the fashionable criminal a velo- nutshake after she get’s her chillin massage in King County!

Sorry, comment time is over.