Bank Hold Up Ends With No Injuries In Urbana

A bank hold up ended quickly on Friday afternoon in Urbana with no injuries.

Lt. Bryant Seraphin with the Urbana Police Department said a black girl approximately 15-years-old entered Heartland Bank on Philo Road at a little after 1pm. Seraphin said the girl walked up to one of the teller windows, and pulled out a note threatening to detonate a bomb if she didn’t get money, but he says she then ran out of the bank.

“We’ve had robberies that have been forwarded before in a variety of different circumstances where somebody says, ‘No, I’m not going to give you anything’ and they fight back or other things, but I’ve never had one where the robber makes this sort of demand and then turns and flees before anything can happen.”

The suspect is described as a black female teenager. She is about 5’3” tall and weighed around 120 pounds. She was wearing a black coat and dark-colored pants. 

Anyone with further information is encouraged to call the Urbana Police Department at 217-384-2320. Callers may remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 217-373-TIPS or text “CCTip” plus the information to CRIMES (274637).

UPDATE, Monday, December 30:  A 14-year old girl has confessed to her role in what was believed to be an attempted bank robbery at Urbana’s Heartland Bank last Friday afternoon.

Urbana police say she admitted to entering the bank and presenting a note to a teller window, threatening to detonate a bomb if she didn’t receive money. 

The juvenile said the incident was intended to be a prank.  She was arrested for felony disorderly conduct, and taken the Champaign County Juvenile Detention Center.

Police are still looking for other juveniles connected with this prank.  Anyone with more information is encouraged to call Urbana Police or Crimestoppers.