Armed Bank Robber Ties Up Staff in Graz, Austria – Police Hunt Suspect
- A large-scale police operation unfolded in Graz-Andritz on Wednesday afternoon following an armed robbery at a bank.
- According to reports, the man entered the bank branch on Stattegger Straße shortly before 3:45 PM.
- The robber then forced one employee to restrain her colleagues to chairs using adhesive tape.
Bank Robbery in Graz: Suspect at Large After Fettering Staff
A large-scale police operation unfolded in Graz-Andritz on Wednesday afternoon following an armed robbery at a bank. The currently unidentified suspect tied up five employees and forced open safety deposit boxes before fleeing with an undisclosed amount of loot.
According to reports, the man entered the bank branch on Stattegger Straße shortly before 3:45 PM. At the time, only five employees were present. The perpetrator allegedly threatened them with a pistol and escorted them to an office, where they were compelled to hand over their mobile phones.
Employees Restrained
The robber then forced one employee to restrain her colleagues to chairs using adhesive tape. Woolen caps were also placed over their faces and secured with tape.
Before securing the final employee, the suspect allegedly compelled her to open the safe and grant access to the customer safety deposit boxes. He then forcibly opened several safety deposit boxes. After approximately 30 minutes, the man left the branch with the stolen funds.
The five restrained employees were later able to free themselves and alerted the police. An immediate search was launched, involving numerous patrol units, special forces, and a police helicopter, but has so far yielded no concrete results.
Suspect Description
An updated description indicates the suspect is a man approximately 185 to 195 centimeters tall, between 25 and 50 years of age. He was wearing a black jacket, blue jeans, and a black cap. The suspect concealed his face with a blonde wig, frameless orange/red sunglasses, and a white FFP2 mask.
He was also described as having a slender build, light skin, and distinctive flat stud earrings in a plate shape. The suspect spoke a Styrian dialect with a relatively high-pitched voice and carried a black Slazenger sports bag (model “Wheel Holdall”).
Police Seek Witnesses
The Steiermark State Criminal Police Office is requesting information regarding the suspect, the crime, or the escape route. They can be reached at 059133/60-3333. The police have asked potentially affected bank customers not to contact them at this time, stating they will be contacted directly.