West Seattle Crime Watch: Admiral Bank of America robbed

Thanks to everybody who called, e-mailed and sent Facebook messages about the big police response at Admiral and California. Police at the scene confirm the Bank of America on Admiral at 44th has been robbed. No description at this point and no word of any arrest. The bank is closed because of the robbery. 6:34 PM UPDATE: Still no arrest, but Southwest Precinct Lt. Norm James has a few more details: “No weapon seen, just a displayed note. The suspect was described as a white male, 35 years old. Witness stated he fled on foot to a waiting bluish/green Honda, driven by a female. Witness got a plate on it that turned out to be stolen plates.”

14 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: Admiral Bank of America robbed"

  • JanS May 5, 2010 (6:47 pm)

    wow…was just there earlier today. The tellers who work there are really nice. Glad no one was hurt!

  • CarolPB May 5, 2010 (7:06 pm)

    Saw 6 cop cars flyin’ north on Delridge about 5:15-I assume this is where they were headed!

  • jiggers May 5, 2010 (7:09 pm)

    I don’t condone bank robbery, but banks rob us regardless. I’m just surprised there hasn’t been an increase since we’re still in a bad recession.

  • Melissa May 5, 2010 (7:15 pm)

    Oh no! I used to work there!

  • Pickles May 5, 2010 (7:30 pm)

    I don’t ever remember, in my lifetime, so many bank robberies happening! Is it just a “sign of the times?” or what? It seems like more could be done to keep this from happening over & over again. Not so much for the money (although obviously that is a huge issue) but the potential danger to the employees and the customers.

  • Zoe of West Seattle May 5, 2010 (9:35 pm)

    Thank you Jan and Pickles for remembering that this is not TV and REAL people are affected and endangered when someone chooses to rob others. It is sad there is such desperation in our community and this continues to happen. Thank you to those who looked out for others and took time to notice something was not right. Being a community is what keeps us safe and supported and empathetic when bad things happen to good people (even at banks!).

  • Ken May 5, 2010 (10:51 pm)

    Man, it does seem like there have been a ton of bank robberies in WS over the last year. I’m surprised all the banks haven’t gone to the thick plexiglass partitions yet.

  • picot May 6, 2010 (7:57 am)

    The thing about the plexiglass is that it actually puts the customers on the other side of the glass at more risk. If the robber decides to get violent or threatening it’s not the staff he’s going to attack, it’s those on the side without the plexiglass. This is just one more way BofA shows it’s customers how it cares. Notice how Key Bank, which has been robbed multiple times still doesn’t have the glass, it does seem that at the least they understand who will likely get hurt….

  • all badd May 6, 2010 (2:00 pm)

    The BOA by Jefferson Square has the glass,how many times have they been robbed?

  • Noelle May 6, 2010 (3:44 pm)

    Why does it seem like West Seattle has more banks robbed than other places?

  • Even More Tired May 6, 2010 (6:26 pm)

    How many banks is this in a year? I lost track at 4 or 5. Nothing has been done to prevent these totally preventable robberies. I’m embarrassed and ashamed that these keep happening. No security on site, no bullet proof glass, no repercussions. The robbers have nothing to fear as they know the banks will just hand it over. The banks aren’t in touch and don’t care about the personnel and certainly know they will be refunded by the US Gubment. It’s a bank robbers paradise that’s why. Some anus stated that Plexiglas endangers the customers? That could be the dumbest most unscientific garbage I’ve ever heard. The banks are run by idiots. Peace.

  • soosan May 6, 2010 (7:04 pm)

    So sorry to hear this; the people who work there are terrific. Glad no one was hurt.

  • dmc May 6, 2010 (8:16 pm)

    I used to work for a now defunct bank. Typically the “bandit barrier” glass protection is put up for everyone’s safety, not just the employees. If one location has it and another close by doesn’t it typically has to do with the frequency of the location getting robbed. For some reason, certain locations get hit more often than others. Also, other factors such as heating/cooling systems play a large part in making the bandit barrier a sustainable method of protection. The location of the vault can also impact if a bandit barrier will work. Security guards aren’t typically effective-they aren’t police and most of the time are not armed. Bank locations that are frequently robbed might have a guard but they aren’t allowed to be aggressive with a bank robber. And the employees “hand it over” because studies show that is the safest way for the employees AND the customers to proceed and not get hurt.

  • stu smalley May 7, 2010 (3:27 pm)

    Guards work because it’s more security and it’s psychological distraction…more risk. Barriers work because they are barriers. Most bank robbers are NOT aggressive, they don’t have to be because they just hand it over. If we keep handing over money, not only is that dumb, but it’s weak and silly. Robberies will continue… and continue… …

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