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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 9, 2005 A bank employee talks on a phone while a police detective takes pictures after a Thursday morning robbery at U.S. Bank on Court Street in Medford. Less than 90 minutes later, a second Medford bank was robbed. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Bank heists continue Two more robberies make it three in the Rogue Valley within two days By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune Two Medford banks were robbed within 90 minutes of each other Thursday morning, sparking a citywide search for suspects involved in the heists. Investigators do not believe the same person robbed both banks, but are not ruling out the possibility that the incidents are in some way connected. "I wouldn’t say (the robberies) are unrelated, because that’s kind of hard to believe," said Medford police Lt. Tim George, citing the timing, "similar style and design" of the twin crimes. Police said Thursday’s crimes are not linked to an armed robbery Wednesday at a Washington Mutual branch in Gold Hill. On Thursday, officers were investigating a 9:24 a.m. robbery at a U.S. Bank branch at 1242 Court St. when they received a 10:44 a.m. report of a second hold-up at Key Bank, 1217 Crater Lake Ave. Advertisement "I’ve never seen anything like this before," Medford police Lt. Mike Moran said of the morning’s events. In each case, a single male robber entered a bank and fled on foot after taking an undisclosed amount of cash. Moran said the U.S. Bank bandit entered the building through an east-side door, walked up to a teller, placed a dark-colored handgun on the counter and demanded money. The robber ran from the scene after obtaining cash. Witnesses described the man as being about 30 years old with a dark complexion and short, dark hair. During the robbery, he carried a large, multi-colored backpack and wore a dark, hooded sweatshirt, a red Philadelphia Phillies baseball hat with the letter "P" on it, light-colored pants and white tennis shoes. Moran said the U.S. Bank suspect might be the same person who robbed a Washington Mutual branch at Crater Lake Avenue and Stevens Street on the afternoon of Aug. 26. "The descriptions are similar," Moran said. While investigating Thursday’s heist at U.S. Bank, police received word of the Key Bank robbery. Initial reports indicated the Key Bank suspect ran north toward Crater Lake Avenue after taking money from a teller. The man told a bank employee he had a gun, but a weapon was not shown, Moran said. A Medford man who was inside Key Bank at the time said he had no idea the business was being robbed. "I didn’t see anything," said Pete Grenier. "It was a very quiet deal." The Key Bank robber is described as a white male who stands about 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs about 220 pounds. He has short, brown hair, a goatee and a mustache. He wore a white T-shirt, black shorts and black athletic shoes during the robbery, police said. Investigators said they doubted Thursday’s crimes are connected to a string of armed robberies in and around the Rogue Valley earlier this year, police said. Five Medford banks have been robbed since May 24. Monty Clifford Smith, a career criminal with a history of robbery convictions, pleaded guilty to the May 24 heist at Evergreen Federal Bank on Crater Lake Avenue, but suspects in the other cases remain on the loose. "We may set an all-time record for bank robberies in a single year, and that’s not a record to be proud of," George said. Anyone with information about either of Thursday’s heists is asked to phone Medford police at 770-4783. Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail Bank heists continue ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Investments & Loans Advertisement s