Winter Park sees first bank robbery since August 2014

Winter Park almost got through 2016 without a single bank robbery.

Park Avenue was the site of the Winter Park’s first bank robbery since August 2014 on Friday, Dec. 30, at around 5 p.m. at SunTrust Bank.

According to a police report, a white male wearing a dark blue baseball cap and a plaid button-down shirt entered the bank just before closing time and handed the teller a note demanding money. The note did not threaten he had a weapon, but the teller complied and the suspect left the bank with an undisclosed amount of money. A security camera clearly captured the man’s face, but no suspects have been identified or arrested. Anyone who recognizes the man is encouraged to call CRIME LINE at 407-423-TIPS or contact the Winter Park Police Department at 407-644-1313.

Lt. Pam Marcum of the Winter Park Police Department said the city hasn’t seen a bank robbery along Park Avenue since the early 2000s.

Marcum said the city having so few bank robberies is likely because most of the city’s banks are located in the city’s business district, which is heavily patrolled by officers.

But while bank robberies may be few and far between in Winter Park, residential burglaries have been another story.

Last September saw the biggest spike in home burglaries that the city has seen in years: 26, according to the Winter Park Police Department’s online crime map. Since 2013, the only month that came close to that number was September 2015, which saw 24.

The large number last September came as a result of a rash of burglaries throughout the month in neighborhoods along Lakemont Avenue, which saw 13 total burglaries. A small string of burglaries also hit Pennsylvania Avenue.

That’s compared to 11 burglaries prior to that in August and 13 in October.

Sgt. Garvin McComie of the Winter Park Police said officers increased their neighborhood patrols as a result. They’re unsure of whether the burglaries were connected or not though, he said.

“We’re still investigating that,” McComie said. “Sometimes it could be related and other times it could be different people that (are) committing the burglaries. There’s really no telltale information we can really get on that.”