Police in Elmwood Park NJ are searching for the suspect in a local bank robbery on New Year’s Eve.

According to authorities, the suspect walked into the Chase bank at 100 Broadway in Elmwood Park shortly before closing.

The suspect allegedly approached a bank teller and gave her a note. According to police, the note stated that the suspect had a gun and would shoot the teller if she did not hand over cash. The suspect also allegedly instructed the teller to not activate the bank’s panic alarm.

The teller responded by giving the suspect approximately $500 in cash. After the suspect got the cash, he reportedly ran out of the bank and fled the scene on foot.

Thankfully, no employees or customers inside the bank were injured during the incident.

When officers with the Bergen County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit got to the scene, they canvassed the area. However, they were unable to locate the suspect.

Police have released a description of the suspect. He is described as a white or Hispanic male in his 20s. He reportedly has a thin build and stands between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-9. At the time of the incident, he was wearing a hooded sweatshirt. Witnesses also said that the suspect has a number of tattoos on his hands.

The investigation into the alleged robbery remains active and ongoing. The Elmwood Park Police Department and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office are collaborating on the investigation.

If the suspect is eventually identified and located, he could be subject to severe criminal penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1, robbery is classified as a first degree felony if the offender threatens the immediate use of a deadly weapon. This means that the suspect in this case could potentially be sentenced to 10–20 years in New Jersey State Prison.

To learn more about this case, read the NJ.com article entitled “Bank Robbed in Elmwood Park New Year’s Eve.”