Law Enforcement Officials Seek Public’s Assistance to Identify Person(s) Responsible for Three Takeover-Style Bank Robberies

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jones County Sheriff’s Office are currently investigating three takeover-style bank robberies that occurred during the past year at rural banks in eastern Iowa. Investigators believe a lone subject, or two subjects conspiring with each other, are responsible for all three robberies. It is also believed the responsible individual(s) either currently reside in the area, or did so at one time, because the rural gravel roads have been utilized as an escape route.

The first robbery occurred on February 27, 2013, at the Citizens State Bank at 101 W. Broadway in Oxford Junction, Iowa. The subject entered the bank shortly after it opened armed with a pistol. He ordered employees into the vault and escaped with an undisclosed sum of money. He was seen getting into a 1993 or 1994 four-wheel drive, single cab Chevrolet pickup truck, blue over silver over blue, which he parked just outside the bank. The robber was described as a white male, 5’8” to 6’0” tall, heavy build, with a black, bushy fake beard. It is possible the subject had something under his jacket to make himself appear heavier.

Photos from this robbery:                         

The second robbery occurred on July 30, 2013, at the Citizens State Bank at 101 W. Broadway in Oxford Junction, Iowa. The subject entered the bank shortly after it opened and ordered employees to the floor. He escaped with an undisclosed sum of money. He was seen leaving the area in a 1994 to 2001 white, two-wheel drive, single cab Dodge pickup truck. The truck had the word DODGE written across the back tailgate and an American flag decal covering the entire rear window. The robber was described as a white male, approximately 40 years old, 5’6” to 5’9” tall, thin build, with a fake red mustache and a full beard.

Photos from this robbery:

The third robbery occurred on January 31, 2014, at the Ohnward Bank and Trust located at 4726 50th Avenue in Baldwin, Iowa. The subject entered the bank shortly after it opened armed with a pistol. He ordered employees into the vault and left with an undisclosed amount of money. He was seen leaving the area in a 1992 to 1995 white, two-wheel drive, single cab Chevrolet pickup truck that had a three-inch red stripe running down the side of it. The truck was described as being “loud.” The robber was described as a white male, approximately 30 years old, 5’8”to 5’10” tall, 220 pounds, wearing a dark-colored, fake beard. It is possible the subject had something under his jacket to make himself appear heavier.

Three different vehicles, each with distinctive features, were utilized during the robberies. All three vehicles were described as either “work” trucks or “farm” trucks, and investigators are hoping someone in the community who views the surveillance photographs of the robber(s), in conjunction with photographs of vehicles similar to the getaway vehicles, will know who they are looking for and will call in a tip.

Ohnward Bank and Trust is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the robbery at their Baldwin location on January 31, 2014.

Citizens State Bank is offering a single $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the robberies that occurred at their Oxford Junction branch on February 27, 2013 and July 30, 2013.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI at (319) 743-6500 or (402) 493-8688.