HERMITAGE Bank robber's 'bomb' was fake, authorities say

The package contained what appeared to be a videocasette tape in a box.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- The man who robbed the First National Bank of Pennsylvania office at Kerrwood Drive and East State Street said the package he left behind was a bomb that would explode in 30 minutes.
Authorities didn't believe it was a real explosive, but they were forced to treat it as if it were and had to wait two hours for the Allegheny County Police Bomb Squad to arrive from the Pittsburgh airport.
The squad X-rayed it and determined it appeared to be a videocassette tape in a brown box.
Meanwhile, the robber was long gone.
Police said a man walked into the bank office around 10 a.m. Friday and asked for the branch manager by name.
He was shown to her office where he produced the package he said was a bomb and a hand-held portable radio that he said was also a remote-control detonating device, police said.
Took money from vault
He ordered the manager to take him into the vault where he helped himself to an undisclosed amount of cash, which he stashed in a briefcase. He left the building, leaving his alleged bomb on a chair in the manager's office and warning that it would explode in 30 minutes if the police were called.
Rather than notify authorities immediately, the bank manager called another First National branch, which then called 911, police said.
Bank employees told police the man, wearing a dark, rumpled suit and a dark wig, spoke into the radio he was carrying and it appeared someone was responding.
Later Friday, police described him as perhaps being of Asian descent, in his early 40s, about 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 170-180 pounds. He had a mole on the right side of his face near his mouth and nose, and wore black-rimmed eyeglasses. His clothing appeared to be worn, as if it had come from a thrift shop.
Bank employees were unable to tell police how the robber left the area, and there were apparently no witnesses outside the bank who saw him depart.
Possible witness
However, an employee of the county welfare office reported she saw a man fitting that general description walking behind Hermitage Towne Plaza shortly before the robbery was reported.
The bank office is located in the southeast corner of the front of the plaza parking lot. The welfare office is located behind the plaza.
A few customers were in the bank when the robber entered, but they were unaware a robbery was in progress, police said.
Police said there was surveillance video in the bank, and it and the alleged bomb were turned over to the FBI.
Police, aided by backup units from surrounding departments and the Hermitage Fire Department, cordoned off area streets to prevent anyone from driving near the bank until the bomb squad could examine the device.
First National officials joined police and others a safe distance away for the two-hour wait.
When the squad arrived, one man dressed in a full blast-protection suit pulled a small wagon carrying a portable X-ray unit into the bank.
A few minutes later, he came out, returned to his truck, then went back into the bank carrying what appeared to be a pair of scissors.
Object removed
He came back out and got a sealable plastic bag from his truck and returned to the bank once more, this time hauling out the device in a plastic milk crate atop his wagon.
Authorities gave the all-clear signal around 1:10 p.m., and traffic was allowed to move again.
It also meant bank officials could begin determining how much money was taken.
Police said they called Allegheny County for a bomb squad rather than Youngstown because of a contractual agreement. That county got some grant money for its bomb squad program by expanding its coverage area, which now includes Mercer County, police said.
gwin@vindy.com