An alleged attempt to rob a Niles bank branch was thwarted after the would-be thief announced having a gun, demanded money, but was told the location didn’t have cash, according to Niles police.
In a police department news release, authorities explained that officers responded Saturday at around 9:20 a.m. to the Fifth Third Bank branch at 8001 Golf Road in Niles on a call of a bank robbery.
A man, described as being 50 to 70 years old, wearing sunglasses and a mask, and carrying a backpack, entered the branch and announced a robbery to one of the bank employees, according to the release.
He stated he had a gun, the release explains.
But the employee informed the thief that the branch did not have cash available. Then, the robber left the bank without getting any money, according to the release.
No injuries were reported.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing, started by the Niles police officers and detectives who initially responded. The case has been turned over to the FBI, the release states.
Some banks have in recent years moved to not having traditional teller stations with cash. Instead, in some cases, tellers are incorporated into automated teller machines. Additionally, there are bank branches that don’t offer teller services at all.
