Reward offered in search for Southport bank robber

SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) — Police in Southport are looking for a man who robbed a bank this afternoon. Southport Police Chief Jerry Dove says it happened about 1:55 p.m. at the First Citizens Bank at Howe and W. West Streets.

Dove says a man witnesses say was six feet tall walked in wearing a hoodie, mask, gloves and blue jeans. Dove says the man handed a teller a note that said, “Give me all your money. No one will get hurt. I have a gun.”

After getting money, the man ran out of the bank down W. West Street toward Lord Street. Dove says a citizens followed the man in his car before losing the suspect behind some homes.

Investigators are using a dog and the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office helicopter to search for the suspect. Chief Dove says there is a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.