The FBI is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect involved in a bank robbery at the Wells Fargo branch located inside the 5th Avenue Mall on Friday afternoon.
According to investigators, the robbery occurred at approximately 1:40 pm on July 11. The suspect, described as a man possibly in his 40s or 50s, approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall, entered the bank and passed a note to a teller demanding money. The note indicated that the man was armed, though no weapon was visibly displayed.
Prior to the robbery, the suspect was observed sitting in a massage chair outside the bank entrance. After receiving an undisclosed amount of cash, he exited the mall on foot. Law enforcement officers responded quickly to the scene, but the suspect was not immediately located.
Authorities have not released surveillance images at this time but are encouraging anyone who may have seen the individual or has any relevant information to come forward.
The last bank robbery in Anchorage occurred one year ago on July 13, 2024, when James Surrells, 54, robbed a local credit union and took $450. He was caught later that day and was sentenced in March, 2025 to over 13 years in prison for the crime, which he committed while on supervised release for a previous bank robbery conviction in a 2014 incident.
The FBI Anchorage Field Office is leading the investigation and urges anyone with tips to call 907-276-4441. Anonymous tips may also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov.
