THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, February 3, 1995               TAG: 9502030538
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY MIKE MATHER, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                     LENGTH: Medium:   58 lines

ROBBER LEAVES KEYS TO GETAWAY CAR IN BANK HE FORGOT HIS NOTE. HE FORGOT HIS KEYS. AND HE BLEW HIS CHANCE FOR THAT LOAN.

Police were still chuckling Thursday about the misadventures of a bungling bank robber who first filled out a loan application at a Hilltop branch and later tried for an unauthorized withdrawal.

According to police interviews and reports, this is what happened:

Cash-strapped Charles Robertson, 19, went to Jefferson National Bank in the 600 block of Nevan Road on Wednesday afternoon and filled out a loan application. Then he left.

About 3 p.m., he returned. This time, he scribbled a demand on scrap paper, explaining to the teller that he had a gun and wanted money. The teller complied.

Robertson figured police were on the way, so he dashed to the front doors with an undisclosed amount of loot.

When he realized he forgot his note - possible evidence - he ran back to the teller and grabbed it. This time, however, he left behind the keys to the getaway car, but didn't realize that until he sprinted to his parking space a block away.

``At this point,'' said Detective Sam Thomson, ``total panic set in.''

Robertson ran into a nearby fast-food restaurant and ducked into the restroom. He dislodged a ceiling tile and hid the money and a .25-caliber handgun.

The fugitive scrambled from building to building, restaurant to restaurant, avoiding the police and working his way back home to an apartment in the 1500 block of Twin Oaks Lane.

Then, he had to face his roommate. It was her car he had borrowed.

Someone stole your car, Robertson told her.

The roommate, who had no idea about the robbery, called police to report her car missing.

About 20 minutes later, officer Mike Koch spied the ``stolen'' car a block from a bank that had just been robbed. And he knew the robbery suspect had left the keys.

The keys fit the car.

Koch contacted detectives, who went to Robertson's apartment. Robertson confessed, and police reclaimed the money.

Witnesses later identified Robertson as the hold-up man.

Now he's staying in the city jail, charged with bank robbery.

No loan.

No bail. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Charles Robertson, 19, confessed to the robbery Wednesday in

Virginia Beach, police said.

KEYWORDS: ROBBERIES BANK ARREST by CNB