Lake Mary bank robbery ends in getaway car crash, police say

LAKE MARY, Fla. — The robbery of a Wells Fargo bank in Lake Mary on Tuesday ended with the accused robber crashing his car at the intersection of Rinehart Road and State Road 46 after a police pursuit, officials said.

The robbery was reported at about 8 a.m. at the bank on International Parkway and Heathrow Center Lane.

“That is actually really scary.  I would not want to be in that bank when it was being robbed obviously.  I come here all the time,” customer Rebecca Borchers said.

Authorities said the man entered the bank and demanded cash.

Lake Mary police spokeswoman Rebekah Matviak credited a quick call to 911 from someone inside the bank as the reason why the culprit was captured so quickly.

"Their quick reaction, (his or her) quick reaction, definitely helped us, helped the Lake Mary Police Department get in line and have officers established around the perimeter for us to secure the subject," Matviak said.

A responding officer got to the bank quickly enough to see the culprit leaving the building, the Lake Mary police said.

After a brief foot chase, the suspected bank robber got into a car and drove off, officers said.

With the assistance of Seminole County sheriff's deputies and Sanford police, the suspect didn't get far, investigators said.

He crashed his car after hitting several other vehicles, police said.

The robbery suspect was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, and was later taken into custody.

His name has not been released.

Cox Media Group