The active land search for a lone man who robbed the CIBC in Petrolia has turned into a search for evidence.

OPP Const. Todd Monaghn says forensics officers and investigators from the Criminal Investigations Unit are now looking for clues into the robbery which shutdown Petrolia Line. The street remains closed as forensics officers look inside and around the bank.

Around 2:30 this afternoon a man came into the bank carrying what appeared to be hand gun. He fled with an undisclosed amount of money.

Earlier in the day, the Western Region Canine Unit, Tactics and Rescue Unit and Emergency Response Team searched behind the bank, near the Oil Heritage District Community Centre – where staff was allowing people in and out – through the wooded area including the covered bridge near the Petrolia Discovery. But the search was made more difficult by the high winds which can scatter the scent tracking dogs follow.

By about 4:30 pm, officers stopped actively searching for the suspect with their guns drawn through the wooded areas and began combing the scene for evidence.

The OPP is looking for a white man, likely in his 30s, wearing a grey hoodie with an emblem on the front of it, and a white shirt. He was wearing sunglasses and white gloves at the time of the robbery.
An undisclosed amount of money was taken. No one was hurt. It’s unclear if there were customers in the bank at the time of the incident.