Would-be Iowa robber foiled by bankers' hours

Kim Norvell
The Des Moines Register
West Des Moines police say a man tried to rob two banks Wednesday but his attempts were thwarted by the banks' hours.

West Des Moines police say a would-be bank robber was thwarted two times Wednesday when the banks he tried to rob were closed. 

Security footage from Marine Credit Union, 909 Ninth St. in West Des Moines, shows a man wearing a gray hoodie, sunglasses and a red bandanna over his face trying to enter the building around 8:15 a.m., according to police. 

The West Des Moines branch of the credit union does not open until 11 a.m. on Wednesdays. 

A few employees were in the parking lot waiting to go in to work when they saw the man, said Sgt. Tony Giampolo, spokesman for the West Des Moines Police Department. 

"They actually watched this guy yank on the doors," he said. 

The man fled when he realized the doors were locked. 

West Des Moines police say a man tried to rob two banks Wednesday but his attempts were thwarted by the banks' hours.

About a half hour later, around 8:45 a.m., a man "described almost exactly like the first" tried to enter First National Bank, 301 Fifth St., about 15 minutes before the bank was scheduled to open. 

The man turned and fled when he saw a West Des Moines police officer inside, Giampolo said. Police were making rounds to warn banks about the earlier robbery attempt. 

Police are asking for the public's help identifying the suspect. Anyone with information can call 515-222-3321.