
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 14, 1995                   TAG: 9503140143
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DIANE STRUZZI
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BANK ROBBER THREATENS STAFF WITH FAKE BOMB

The Crestar Bank at 2230 Melrose Ave. N.W. was robbed Monday afternoon by a man who handed a bank teller a note demanding money, then placed what appeared to be a bomb on the teller's counter, Roanoke police said.

The robber fled with an undetermined amount of cash. Investigators determined that the bomb was not real, police said.

The man walked into the bank about 12:30 p.m. Monday. After he handed the teller the note, he verbally threatened her, warning her not to sound the alarm, police said.

Roanoke police and the FBI are investigating. Police are not linking this robbery to three others in Roanoke within the last six weeks.

by CNB