Published: August 25, 2008 09:11 am      

Dye packs made robbers’ bank heist take less fruitful

By Lacie Morrison
lmorrison@mineralwellsindex.com

GRAFORD – According to the Palo Pinto County Sheriff, the suspects who robbed Graford’s First National Bank Wednesday afternoon ended up making out with less than 10 percent of what the employees gave them.

Shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday, a male subject entered the bank on Main Street and demanded money from the two employees and displayed a small handgun, officials had reported at the scene.

A dye pack placed with the money discharged when the suspect left the bank and officials reported the suspect could have red dye on his person. The man left the scene in a newer model sports utility vehicle that was dark tan to green in color.

Palo Pinto County Sheriff Ira Mercer said the robber was given $59,888 by the bank employees. What he actually made away with was much less, according to the sheriff.

Mercer said the robber left several thousand dollars at the scene, totaling approximately $53,000.

According to the sheriff, approximately $5,200 was how much the suspect took.

The sheriff’s office released a Crime Stoppers alert asking for anyone with information about the incident to contact authorities. In the description of the suspect who entered the vehicle, Mercer said the man’s height is approximately 5 foot 10 inches, rather than the previously issued 6 foot 2 inches to 6 foot 4 inches.

There was also reportedly a second person who waited in the getaway vehicle during the robbery. A description of that individual was not released.

Officials encourage anyone with information to contact the sheriff’s office at (940) 659-2085 or Crime Stoppers at (940) 659-9904. Individuals can anonymously provide information; if the information leads to an arrest and indictment, they are eligible for a reward up to $1,000.