Officers find abandoned car not far from Gastonia bank robbery

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GASTONIA, N.C. — Police were called to the scene of a bank robbery at Fidelity Bank on Union Road in Gastonia Thursday morning.

Detectives said the robber drove up to the drive-thru window around 10:30 a.m. and handed a teller a note demanding cash. Police said the robber did not brandish a weapon. The robber drove off with some cash.

[IMAGES: Investigation underway after bank robbery in Gastonia]

A short time later, Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over a neighborhood about a mile from the bank and could see officers using police K-9s to search in and around a black Honda sedan that appeared to be abandoned at the end of Plantation Trail, which is a dead-end road.

Loretta and Larry Harris watched the drama unfold outside their front door.

“It just sort of unnerves you for a little while because you don't know what's going on,” Loretta Harris said.

Officials told Channel 9 that the stolen vehicle was connected to the bank robbery.

Officers could be seen in the area, armed with assault rifles, searching a field and shrubbery for the suspects.

“He hit the dead end and got out and ran into those woods,” Loretta Harris said.

Authorities could not find the bank robber Thursday afternoon.

The vehicle was stolen from the BP Gas Station at 1651 Bessemer City Road.

No other details have been released.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story.

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