Police blotter: Belle View area bank robbed at gunpoint

The Wells Fargo on Belle View Boulevard. (Google Maps image)

A bank in the Belle View area was robbed at gunpoint Tuesday afternoon, setting off a search for the suspect that was ultimately unsuccessful.

The robbery happened around 1:15 p.m. at the Wells Fargo at 1805 Belle View Boulevard (see map). Police say the suspect pointed a handgun at an employee and demanded cash. He fled east down Belle View Boulevard with an undisclosed amount of money, according to police.

Several schools in the area, including Belle View Elementary, Bucknell Elementary, West Potomac High School and the Quander Road School were put into “secure the building” status after the robbery, according to an FCPS spokesman. “Secure the building” means nobody is allowed in or out, but classes and activities continue.

A police helicopter was used to search for the robber but officers were unable to locate him. He’s described as a black man, approximately 35 years old, around 5 foot 5 inches tall and 150 pounds.

The bank robbery was one of two in the county on Tuesday. Another Wells Fargo was robbed earlier in the afternoon on Walker Road in the Great Falls area. The suspect in that incident was arrested by police, and the two robberies are not believed to be related.

Other incidents reported on Wednesday’s blotter from the Mount Vernon district:

Larceny: 3700 block of Lockheed Boulevard, purse from vehicle
Larceny: 6000 block of Richmond Highway, steering wheel and airbag from vehicle
Larceny: 7900 block of Richmond Highway, merchandise from business

Incidents reported on Tuesday’s blotter from the Mount Vernon district:

Burglary: The victim reported two computers and cash stolen from their apartment in the 2600 block of Arlington Drive between 6 a.m. on Nov. 10 and 9 p.m. on Nov. 11.

Burglary: A resident in 2500 block of Belleview Avenue discovered someone had entered the home through an unlocked window and stole money between 7 a.m. and 9:45 p.m. on Nov. 9.

Larceny: 2600 block of Arlington Drive, packages from residence
Larceny: 6900 block of Columbia Drive, hose from residence
Larceny: 8500 block of Hyman Way, license plate from vehicle
Larceny: 2300 block of Huntington Avenue, cigarettes from business
Larceny: 8300 block of Justin Road, keys and purse from vehicle
Larceny: 8400 block of Lakepark Drive, property from residence
Larceny: 3100 block of Lockheed Boulevard, merchandise from business
Larceny: 3300 block of Lockheed Boulevard, cell phone and keys from location
Larceny: 3200 block of Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, property from vehicle
Larceny: 2800 block of Preston Avenue, wallet from vehicle
Larceny: 6300 block of Richmond Highway, merchandise from business
Larceny: 6700 block of Richmond Highway, cell phone from location
Larceny: 7700 block of Richmond Highway, merchandise from business
Larceny: 8700 block of Richmond Highway, wallet from location
Larceny: 7500 block of Vernon Square Drive, property from location
Larceny: 7800 block of Richmond Highway, cell phone from business
Larceny: 8600 block of Walutes Circle, cash from vehicle