Two banks robbed within minutes of each other

Thursday, Dec. 2, 1999 | 9:33 a.m.

Two Southern Nevada banks were robbed within 25 minutes of each other Wednesday in apparently unconnected holdups.

A man walked into the Pioneer Citizens Bank of Nevada on North Stephanie Street in Henderson about 9:20 a.m. and showed a teller what he said was a bomb inside a briefcase and demanded money, FBI officials said.

The man fled the area with an undisclosed amount of cash, officials said.

At about 9:55 a.m., a man with a handgun ordered the security officer at the California Federal Bank on South Maryland Parkway to the ground. He ordered the tellers to give him money, FBI officials said.

The robber left the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash.

During the robbery an elderly man became ill inside the bank. He was taken to a local hospital, but no information about his condition was available, FBI officials said.

The robber may have had two other people assisting him in the holdup, but FBI agents didn't have any information about them.

The suspect in the Las Vegas bank holdup was described as white, about 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighing about 180 to 200 pounds with reddish-blond hair. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, dark pants and tennis shoes.

The suspect in the Henderson bank robbery was described as white, 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing about 190 pounds.