Hunt for Ivan, the terrible bank robber
Suspect had furry hat and Russian accent
POLICE are hunting a would-be bank robber who was wearing a black furry hat and spoke with a Russian accent.
The elderly suspect travelled to Edinburgh to carry out his raid but bungled it before fleeing in a taxi and then a train.
The incident happened at a branch of TSB in the city’s Clerk Street at about 1.30pm on Monday.
He approached a teller before removing an item from a holdall. He implied it was an bomb that he would detonate, then demanded money.
Police were alerted and the man fled in a taxi. He left the device behind, which was found to be a fake, posing no risk. The suspect is white with tanned skin, of heavy build with a full face, 5ft 8in to 5ft 10in and aged 60 to 70.
He was wearing large dark-rimmed glasses and possibly spoke with a Russian accent.
He was dressed in black, including a furry beanie hat, a three-quarter length woollen coat, trousers and leather shoes, and was carrying a black holdall. It’s understood he arrived in Edinburgh at 12.14pm on the London King’s Cross train and travelled to various banks before he got to Clerk Street, where the taxi waited.
He returned to the vehicle and was dropped off at Waverley Station.
Detective Inspector Grant Johnston said: “We are continuing inquiries to establish the suspect’s movements prior to arriving in Edinburgh, and after his departure on the Manchester-bound train.
“I believe the suspect may be a regular visitor to Edinburgh and I’d urge anyone who may have seen the man, or who recognises his description, to contact us immediately.”