LAWRENCE, Mass. (WHDH) – It only took 15 minutes for Lawrence Police to catch two suspected bank robbers.
A man wearing a ski mask walked into the TD Bank on South Broadway Thursday evening. He pointed a gun at tellers and demanded money.
“The clerks gave them money. The individual then ran out the door,” said Chief John Romero of the Lawrence Police Department.
When the man ran out of the bank a witness though it was strange he was wearing a ski mask and took note of the license plate.
“Getting a description of the vehicle is one thing but getting the license plate is a real plus. In this case that really was instrumental in the apprehension,” said Romero.
Within minutes police were able to track down the vehicle and arrest the two suspects.
“We were able to apprehend one of the individuals almost immediately and shortly there after while searching we located the second male as well. Within 15 minutes we had both males under arrest,” said Romero.
Police said 33-year-old Juan Muniz was the man who went into the bank. They said 38-year-old Pablo Ortiz was the getaway driver. Both were charged with armed robbery while masked and disguised.
Police are still looking for the gun used in the robbery.
“Everything went right for us here. I mean the bank people did what they were supposed to do, police responded, patrol units responded, they did what they were supposed to do, searching off in that location and of course this witness did the right thing as well,” said Romero.
A bank robbery took place at the same bank earlier in June. Police believe that robbery could be the works of the same two men.