Kirkcaldy Bank Robbery

Police in Fife were called to reports of a robbery at a bank in the Mitchelston Industrial Estate in Kirkcaldy.

Officers were called to the incident at the Bank of Scotland at 1.30pm on Wednesday 11th November.

No-one has been injured but areas around the bank have been cordoned off. People at nearby premises including shops and schools were initially kept inside as a precaution but they told it was safe to leave at around 3.30pm.

Speaking on Wednesday evening, Superintendent Derek McEwan said:

"This is an unusual incident for Kirkcaldy and a large number of officers are currently working to ensure the area is safe, speak to those who have witnessed this robbery and return the area to normal as quickly as possible. I'd like to thank people for their patience whilst we carry out our enquiries.

"Our priority was to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all members of the public in the vicinity of this incident. A number of items were found and to ensure their safe removal, specialists from the military Explosive Ordnance Device Unit attended and examined them. These items are in the process of being removed but did not pose a risk to the public.

"A decision was also made to prevent the public from leaving nearby shop premises and schools for a short period of time, however this was done to ensure their safety. There were no threats directed at these premises or the public within, and this was merely a precaution until we could satisfy ourselves the area was safe.

"Officers will be in the area into the evening to provide further reassurance whilst continuing to investigate this incident."

On Thursday 12th November the police appealed for witnesses, Detective Inspector Charlie Duncan is leading the investigation and said:

“I want to speak to anyone who may have been in the area of the industrial estate in Lochgelly between 12.15pm and 12.40pm yesterday and saw the man who is described as white, 5 foot 6 inches tall, of heavy build and wearing a dark green baseball cap, a dark green scarf, a thick dark blue jacket, tracksuit bottoms and sunglasses. He spoke with a distinctive Eastern European accent.​“I am particularly interested to trace any taxi drivers who may have taken a hire to the Lochgelly area yesterday who matched this description. We are not certain how this individual came to be in that area, but due to the location it is unlikely that he walked there.
 
“We would also be keen to trace any taxi drivers or members of the public who may have seen a man fitting this description leaving the Kirkcaldy area anytime from 1.30pm following the incident at the bank.”