MOUNTAIN TOP -- Police said two men wearing ski masks and carrying weapons robbed a Citizens Bank branch in Mountain Top.
Authorities believe the two robbers ran off and that prompted police to search a wooded area along Route 309.
People who stopped by the bank said it was only a matter of time before robbers hit a bank in Mountain Top.
"Today? I'm not surprised. Why? Because it's happening all over," Shirlee Ied from Mountain Top.
Police believe this crime may be connected to another bank robbery near Hazleton just last week.
Surveillance pictures from Community Bank on Airport Road show two robbers dressed in black and carrying guns.
John Davala from the Pat Curley Detective Agency said these robberies should make banks want to hire their own armed guards.
"Oh no, we got cameras. Everything is ok they'll be here in minutes. But as you can see, how many minutes does it take to rob the bank?"
Police said one of the robbers took a teller's cellphone so they couldn't call police. Newswatch 16 spoke with the woman who said she found that phone and returned it.
"It's a big deal. Most people would have kept the phone, but not me. I gave it back," said Amanda O'Shinski from Nanticoke.
Police said the robbers did make off with a few thousand dollars.
"Whoa. Who robs a bank in the daytime? Really? Who does that? I don't know. It's crazy," said O'Shinski.
Police said the stores at the Weis shopping center in Mountain Top were on lockdown for a few minutes while they waited for police to arrive.
As for the bank robbery, police are still investigating.
