First Fidelity Bank robbed, threatened by bomb hoax

A robbery at the First Fidelity Bank at 3945 Chestnut Street turned into a bomb scare yesterday morning, when the perpetrator gave the teller a threatening note and left a suspicious briefcase in the customer service area. Though the bomb was a hoax and there were no injuries reported, the bank robber escaped with an undetermined amount of cash. At 9:15 a.m., University and Philadelphia police responded to the call, and the Philadelphia Bomb Squad was requested on the scene. 40th Street was blocked off from Chestnut to Market streets. The suspect was described as a 45-year-old black male, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 180 pounds, with a pony tail, according to University Police Sergeant Tim Trucksess. The robber was wearing a brown pinstriped suit and sunglasses, and was last seen fleeing south on 39th Street, Trucksess added. The briefcase left in the bank had a small, blinking light attached to it, according to Officer Peter King, who works with the Philadelphia Bomb Squad. The squad x-rayed the briefcase and determined that it had a possible power source inside, King added. The bomb squad then used a device called a water disruptor to open the briefcase. Its contents included a six-volt lantern battery, lead and several wires. King said the device was probably used to operate the small light on the briefcase. "It's been a while since we had an assignment like this," King said. Yesterday's robbery was the second at the same location in less than a year. In February, a man was arrested after attempting to rob the bank by handing a teller a note demanding money. When the teller did not comply, the man fled the bank and was apprehended by University Police at 40th and Sansom streets.

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