Crime & Safety

[UPDATE 2:07 p.m.] Bank Robbed in Watertown Square, Possible Bomb in Bank

Streets are reopened after intensive police response to a bank robbery determined the robber had not left a bomb in the bank.

[UPDATE: 2:07 p.m.] New photos added from the scene of today's bank robbery.

[UPDATE: 12:27 p.m.] Traffic around Watertown Square is flowing again after being closed off while a State Police bomb squad searched the scene of a robbery at the Belmont Savings Bank at 53 Mt. Auburn St. , which was robbed at about 10:30 a.m. Friday.

Police say the suspect -- a white male, and according to scanner reports, clean- shaven, 5'9"-5'10" with a dark blue or black backpack -- handed over a note saying he had a bomb in his bag. Scanner reports say no weapon was shown.

Find out what's happening in Watertownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The bank handed over the money, and he is believed to have fled out the front door and around the back of the bank.

Watertown Police had closed all streets within a two-block radius of the bank, but all streets are re-opened again. Only the bank is still closed.

Find out what's happening in Watertownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

[UPDATE: 12:08] According to scanner reports, the State Police bomb squad has given the all-clear signal and ambulances are starting to leave the scene of the Belmont Savings Bank at 53 Mt. Auburn St. , which was robbed at about 10:15 a.m.

Bomb-sniffing dogs had been brought in when the primary suspect, a white male wearing a black hoodie, went into the bank and said he had a bomb in a bag.

He was carrying a blue backpack, and left it inside the bank.

Watertown Police have closed all streets within a two-block radius of the bank: there are roadblocks at Arsenal and Taylor; Summer at Spring; and Mt. Auburn at Palfrey.  The 71 bus is being temporarily rerouted.

[UPDATE: 11:54 a.m.]  Police are searching for suspects in the area of the Belmont Savings Bank at 53 Mt. Auburn St. , which was robbed at about 10:15 a.m.

The primary suspect is a white male wearing a black hoodie, who went into the bank and said he had a bomb in a bag.

The suspect was carrying a blue backpack, and left it inside the bank. The State Police bomb squad arrived moments ago.

Watertown Police have closed all streets within a two-block radius of the bank: there are roadblocks at Arsenal and Taylor; Summer at Spring; and Mt. Auburn at Palfrey.  The 71 bus is being rerouted.

Two fire vehicles, two ambulances and five police cars are all standing by. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been called in.

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