Robbers keeping busy in Utah County

OREM — A string of robberies in Utah County has police asking for the public's help in locating the various suspects.

Orem police are looking for a man they say robbed a La Quinta Inn & Suites early Thursday morning.

Around 2:30 a.m., a heavy-set man described as 5-foot-7 and dirty looking, wearing black gloves, a ski mask and a green hoodie, entered the lobby at 780 N. 1100 West, said Orem Police Lt. Doug Edwards.

The man pulled out a small handgun and demanded money from the employee, Edwards said.

After getting the money, the man ran south and eluded officers, despite a quick arrival by police.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Orem Department of Public Safety at 801-229-7070.

Just a few hours later at 11:20 a.m., Provo police were called to a bank robbery at Far West Bank at 200 E. Center.

Provo Police Detective Mark Crosby said a woman entered and handed a note to the tellers asking for money. After getting the money, she fled the bank on foot.

Thanks to information from numerous witnesses, police tracked the woman to a nearby apartment complex, where she surrendered to police around 4 p.m., Crosby said. Officers are still interviewing the woman, he said.

In Springville, police are investigating two robberies and believe their suspect may be growing more bold.

On the evening of Feb. 28, a white man wearing a dark-colored, zip-up hoodie and sunglasses entered the Hogi Yogi at 295 S. Main and demanded money from the cash registers, said Springville Police Lt. Dave Caron.

Employees didn't see a gun, but the man said he had a weapon and kept his hand in his pocket, Caron said. The man left after getting some money.

On Wednesday night, the same Hogi Yogi was robbed — likely by the same man, police said.

Employees said the man, who matched the first description, came through the employee entrance, pulled out a silver handgun and demanded money, Caron said.

The man is between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-10 and is described as stocky.

The fact that the man was freely showing his weapon during the second robbery leads police to believe he is becoming more bold and thus more dangerous, Caron said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Springville police at 801-489-9421.

E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com