Police search for man who robbed bank with handwritten note

'Don’t push alarm or will shoot you,' the note read

A still from CCTV footage of a man who allegedly robbed the Nationwide Building Society, on High Street East in Wallsend, Northumbria (Northumbria Police)

A year after a man robbed a bank using a handwritten note, Northumbria Police have launched a fresh appeal for information.

On 15 March last year, the man walked into the Nationwide Building Society on High Street East in Wallsend at 1.20pm, and handed staff a note reading: “Keep calm or I’ll use my gun on you. Keep both hands visible don’t panic.”

“Don’t push alarm or will shoot you,” it concluded.

After the staff handed the robber an undisclosed amount of cash, he left the building.

No one was injured and no gun was seen during the incident.

Detectives are now appealing for anyone with information to come forward and identify the man captured on CCTV footage released by police.

The note a man handed to bank staff (Northumbria Police handout)

The video show the man enter and leave the shop several times and putting his hood up and a hat on, before entering for a final time to rob the bank.

Acting Detective Sergeant Keith Howells, from the force's Major Crime Team, said: “Since this happened we've made extensive enquiries to trace the man responsible and the investigation is still ongoing.

"No unsolved crime is ever closed and we'll always act on information we receive and follow up new leads. It's now been a year since this robbery took place and we're making a fresh appeal for witnesses to come forward.

“Someone, somewhere, knows who is responsible for this robbery and I'd urge people to get in touch with police, anonymously if necessary.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 ext 69191, quoting reference 508 15/03/13, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Information passed through Crimestoppers can be done anonymously and callers could qualify for a cash reward for information which leads to an arrest and charge.