The Chesterton branch of LaPorte Savings Bank at 851 Indian Boundary Road was robbed this morning by a man who led a teller to believe he was in possession of a gun.

The robbery occurred at 10:25 a.m., Police Chief George Nelson told the Chesterton Tribune. No one was injured, he said, and no gun ever displayed.

At deadline potential witnesses were still being interviewed or sought, but so far the suspect has been described as a male, possibly Hispanic, wearing a blue shirt. He fled the bank via a back door, which leads onto the service drive behind the Pumpkin Patch planned unit development. He was not seen to enter a vehicle and surveillance tapes from nearby businesses are being reviewed.

Today’s bank robbery is the fourth this year in the Town of Chesterton. 1st Source Bank at 800 Indian Boundary Road, the former site of the Porter County Visitors Center, has been robbed twice, the first time on Jan. 25 by a white male in his thirties, around 5’ 8’’ in height with a thin build and blond hair; the second time on April 7, by a Hispanic male, 30 to 35 years of age, 5’ 8’’ to 5’ 9’’ in height and 165-185 pounds in weight. Both suspects implied possession of a gun.

Then, on May 21, the Chesterton branch of Chase Bank at 109 Broadway was robbed by a black male, around 6’ 0’’ in height, well dressed in casual business attire and wearing a tan beret. He neither displayed a weapon nor implied one.

Posted 7/1/2008