A surveillance camera image shows a hooded man allegedly robbing a Mascoma Savings Bank branch in Springfield, Vt., on November 10, 2016. He fled the scene by stealing the bank manager's car. (Courtesy Springfield Police)
A surveillance camera image shows a hooded man allegedly robbing a Mascoma Savings Bank branch in Springfield, Vt., on November 10, 2016. He fled the scene by stealing the bank manager's car. (Courtesy Springfield Police) Credit: Springfield Police

Springfield, Vt. — The man who robbed a Mascoma Savings Bank on Thursday in Springfield appeared to know the area well and was lying in wait for employees opening the branch, police said.

Officers are still searching for the suspect, who they describe as white with a “heavier looking build” standing somewhere between 5 feet 11 inches and 6 feet 2 inches tall. He was wearing tan pants, a green hoodie, black gloves, work boots and a black mask with sunglasses during the robbery, according to a statement from police.

The man approached the bank manager with a semi-automatic handgun as the branch was opening and remained inside for about 20 minutes demanding more money, police said. He then took the manager’s vehicle and fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Police believe the man was working with an accomplice. He mentioned having the bank watched during the robbery and might have been communicating to others using a wireless Bluetooth device.

Springfield Police officers later found the manager’s vehicle abandoned near St. Mary’s Cemetery off of River Street and initially believed the suspect to be on foot in the area, according to the department’s Facebook page. Around noon, police updated the page to say the area was clear.

The branch was closed for the entire day on Thursday, said Peter Begin, who leads Mascoma Savings Bank’s security team. Because of the Veterans Day bank holiday, the branch also is closed today.

Begin said employees are trained almost monthly on how to handle robberies, a practice he said the bank will continue.

“Unfortunately, in today’s climate what I tell our employees is ‘Just be aware. It’s not if, it’s when,’ ” he said.

Tim Camerato can be reached at tcamerato@vnews.com or 603-727-3223.