MASON CITY, Iowa–A gunman suspected of robberies across the country is believed to also be responsible for the holdup at a Heartland Credit Union office here.
Authorities are calling the serial robber the "AK-47 Bandit" due to his weapon of choice.
A man wearing a black ski mask, gloves and armed with an AK-47 walked into the Heartland branch, demanded cash, and then ordered employees to into the vault. An “improvised explosive device" was left behind, authorities stated. The robber fled with an undisclosed amount of money.
The device was evaluated by the Iowa Fire Marshal's Office, but officials won't say what the device contained, the Journal Star reported.
No one was injured. There is a $100,000 reward for information leading to the robber’s arrest and conviction.