ST. GEORGE – On January 12, 2011 at approximately 2:55 p.m. the St. George Police Department responded to Chase Bank at 95 E. Tabernacle St. on a reported bank robbery that preliminary investigation indicates may have been a prank phone call.

A male caller contacted the bank employees by phone and demanded money. He stated he was outside. He indicated he had a gun and threatened to kill and rape everyone in the bank unless he got the money. Officers secured the area setting up a perimeter around the bank and searched all adjacent parking lots and open areas. One preschool in the vicinity was advised to lockdown. Several businesses around the scene contacted dispatch inquiring about the police activity. A number of them voluntarily locked their businesses down when advised of the circumstances.

Officers entered the bank and secured the scene. The St. George Police Department Investigations Division responded to the scene along with the FBI as is protocol. Together they are investigating this incident.

Preliminary investigation into the phone number that was used to contact the bank in this case leads investigators to believe this may have been a prank call. The number has been linked to numerous incidents throughout the nation involving similar hoaxes and prank calls. No actual robbery occurred and there were no injuries associated with this incident.

The investigation is being conducted by the St. George Police Department Investigations Division and the FBI. If details become available indicating this is not simply a hoax, further information will be released.