Fresh plea over Kirkcaldy bank robbery
Police have issued a fresh plea for information after a taxi driver was abducted and forced to rob a bank.
A man was picked up by a taxi in The Avenue, Lochgelly, Fife, at around 12.40pm on Wednesday and made the driver take him to the Bank of Scotland in Mitchelston Industrial Estate, Kirkcaldy.
He then forced the driver to enter the bank and present a note to the staff demanding money, Police Scotland said. A cashier handed over a four-figure sum, but it was later recovered by police at the scene.
The would-be thief fled as emergency services were called, and the taxi driver was taken away by police officers while the area was searched.
A description of the suspect has been released and a dedicated team of detectives are checking CCTV footage from surrounding premises and carrying out door-to-door inquiries.
The man is described as white, 5ft 6in and of heavy build. He was wearing a dark green baseball cap, a dark green scarf, a thick dark blue jacket, tracksuit bottoms and sunglasses, and he spoke with a distinctive Eastern European accent.
Officers are urging anyone who may have information to come forward, particularly those who recognise the description of the man and may have seen him on the day of the robbery.
Detective Inspector Charlie Duncan said: I believe the male we are looking for may have been hanging about in the area of the small industrial estate on The Avenue, Lochgelly between 12.15pm and 12.40pm on Wednesday, before he was able to get a taxi to take him to Kirkcaldy.
I believe he was carrying a large blue canvas holdall with distinctive stripes on the corners. This male may have walked to this location from Lochgelly or may have been delivered there by another vehicle.
We have recovered the holdall after the robbery, however I am not in a position to release an image of it at this time.
I also know the male left the area of Carberry Road, Kirkcaldy, as he has been seen running along Carberry Place, which leads to the rear of the Asda store.
I believe he may have tried to leave the area immediately and in doing so may have again used a taxi or public transport, which would have been around 2pm.
I would ask anyone who believes they may have transported this male to come forward.''
Initial reports from the bank described how a possible explosive device was involved and nearby schools and shops were locked down while officers investigated the scene.
Bomb disposal teams scoured the area but they later confirmed no explosives were involved in the incident, police said.