Robber with party mask strikes again at bank in Helena-West Helena

HELENA-WEST HELENA, Ark. — Police in Helena-West Helena said a masked man struck again and robbed the same bank that was victim to a robbery last week.

A robber wearing an orange and white clown mask entered the Southern Bancorp in West Helena at 425 Plaza Street on Friday armed with a black semi-automatic handgun. He demanded money from the tellers, but it’s currently unclear if he got away with anything from the bank.

Last Monday, police said a robber entered the West Helena branch of the United States Post Office with a white “Scream” mask and demanded money. Minutes later, the same man in the “Scream” mask attempted to rob the same Southern Bancorp bank.

The prior Saturday, a man robbed a nearby Tobacco Superstore while wearing a gorilla mask.

Police said they think the same man is responsible for all the robberies, and he was using the same gun.

He was seen Friday leaving in a white four-door Ford Taurus, and police said they think the car has Tennessee tags. He was last seen driving south on 4th Street, police said.

During last week’s robbery at the post office, a customer in the store at the time accused the employees of abandoning him in the lobby with the robber. A $50,000 reward was being offered last week for information in the post office robbery.