Man drops from ceiling in ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ style attempted bank robbery in Newcastle

Newcastle police and King County deputies are asking for the public’s help in solving what they’re calling an “Ocean’s Eleven” type attempted bank robbery.

There was a lot planning, but unlike the movie, not much payoff.

Detectives said the robber cut a hole in the roof of a KeyBank early on Jan. 3.

Newcastle police were called to the bank at 1 p.m. after a leaking ceiling led to the discovery of a 3 feet by 3 feet hole that had been cut in the roof. Employees with a roofing company told officers they saw no sign that someone had made entry into the bank. In addition, employees who had been in the bank for more than four hours had not heard anything, so it was suspected that someone had tried to get into the bank but was unable to and left.

The roof was patched, and a burglary report was made.

Shortly after 5:30 p.m., a man whom police believe hid quietly in the ceiling for 12 to 13 hours dropped down into the bank with a gun and held three employees hostage by zip-tying them to cabinets and each other, Newcastle police said in a news release.

The man then demanded access to the vault. When employees explained they could not open it because of security measures that were in place, the man continued his demands for several minutes but eventually fled through the bank’s front door.

Shortly after, one of the employees was able to get loose and call 911.

Investigators released surveillance photos from the bank on Wednesday. Detectives said the man was wearing a mask and his face will be hard to identify, but they are confident that the man has told or will tell someone about the incident.

“It is too bizarre a story for someone to keep to themselves,” Newcastle police said in a news release.

Anyone who recognizes the robber’s shoes or clothes, or may have heard the suspect talking about the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).