Surveillance released of robber who claimed he had grenade

UPDATE @ 9:07 a.m. (April 19):

Police have released surveillance images of the robber who stole money from the LoanMax store in the 5700 block of North Springboro Pike at West Alex-Bell Road.

Witnesses told police the robber had a hand grenade and threatened to use it if money wasn’t put in his bag, according to investigators.

UPDATE @ 5:20 p.m.: Police are looking for a male in his late 20s or early 30s who for sure displayed a handgun when he robbed the LoanMax Title Loans store of an undetermined amount of cash.

West Carrollton police Sgt. Alex Flynn said police are working to confirm whether the robber was holding a grenade in his other hand.

Flynn said a Dayton police K-9 unit was brought in to help search for the robber, who fled on foot.

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Police were dispatched just before 4 p.m. on the report of an armed robbery at the business, in the 5700 block of North Springboro Pike at West Alex-Bell Road.

The robber was wearing a baseball cap, surgical mask over his face, dark long pants and a hoodie with a reflective vest over it, Flynn said.

If you saw the robbery or the suspect, you are asked to call West Carrollton police dispatch at 937-859-3688.

INITIAL REPORT

A masked man believed to have been armed with a handgun -- or a grenade -- has robbed the LoanMax Title Loans store in the 5700 block of North Springboro Pike and West Alex-Bell Road in West Carrollton.

The incident was dispatched minutes ago and police are preparing to issue a BOLO -- Be On the Lookout -- for area law enforcement agencies.

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There are no reports of injury. We have a crew en route. We will update this developing report.

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