Several news outlets are reporting that an NBT Bank in Sharon Springs was robbed shortly after noon on Wednesday, and that state and local police are searching for the robber.
State Police say the masked man implied that he had a weapon on him, but did not display one in the course of the robbery. Authorities say the man left the bank on foot with more than $10,000 in cash.
No one was injured during the robbery and the bank was closed for the remainder of the day.
ABC News 10 reports that the robbery prompted the Sharon Springs Central School to go on lockdown for the afternoon, and has more description of the robber:
The Sharon Springs Central School, across the street from the NBT Bank, was contacted by the Sheriff's Department around 12:20 p.m. and instructed to go into lockdown. Then around 12:35 p.m. the school was told to go into a "lockout" scenario, and will remain that way for the rest of the school day.
Witnesses say the suspect was wearing a hard hat and vest, and left the scene in a black, jeep-like vehicle, according to police.
Update, 1/24: New York State Police have released a statement about the robbery:
At 12:04PM, a white male, approximately five feet eight inches tall with a stocky build, entered the bank and handed the teller a note demanding cash. The suspect was wearing a yellow hard hat, a reflective work vest, jeans, gloves, and a hooded sweatshirt and left the bank with an as yet undetermined amount of cash and proceeded on foot in a northerly direction behind the bank.
At this time, he is believed to have left the area in an older model black Jeep with a hard top and yellow emergency light affixed to the roof. The suspect vehicle is equipped with white rims and an older white New York State license plate.
Anyone with information on the subject or vehicle is asked to contact New York State Police 24 hour line in Princetown at 518-630-1700.
