East Lansing police are searching for a suspect following an early morning robbery at a bank on Grand River Avenue, marking the fourth time the branch has been targeted in less than five years.

Police said a man walked into Citizens Bank, 1331 E. Grand River Ave., racked a shotgun and demanded money from a teller. The man then fled on foot.

Following a K-9 track conducted on the scene, police believe the subject got into a vehicle a short distance away and drove off. No employees or customers were injured in the incident.

The subject is described as a man about 6 feet 2 inches to 6 feet 4 inches tall with a husky build and noticeably blue eyes. He was seen wearing a khaki-colored trench coat, khaki pants and a khaki stocking cap. Police have video of the robbery from the bank's surveillance camera.

The subject is believed to have parked his car in the parking lot of an apartment complex behind Brookfield Plaza, where the bank is located.

Electrical engineering senior Jordan Engel lives in the apartments and said he is worried about the safety of himself and people he knows who live in the area. It's the second time the bank has been robbed since he has lived there.

"It's concerning," he said. "I don't want anyone to encounter people with guns."

Previous robberies at the bank have occurred in fall 2001, fall 2000 and summer 1999.

East Lansing police Sgt. Carl Nowak said residents shouldn't be alarmed about the robbery.

"It's not a special bank they rob," he said. "They target a bank they feel they can get away with."

Nowak said detectives from the department are continuing to investigate the robbery. Police have not released how much money, if any, the man stole. The bank remained closed the rest of Tuesday and referred customers to another location.

Laura Tritten was working at Beaner's Gourmet Coffee, located next door to the bank in Brookfield Plaza, when the robbery occurred.

"I was scared," Tritten said. "It does worry me, that's for sure."

Tritten added that the coffee shop was crowded at the time of the robbery, and many patrons became worried when they heard about what had happened.

Sarah Leonard, an employee at Martinizing Dry Cleaners, located a few doors down from the bank, said after she heard of the incident, she was worried for the employees at the bank, many of whom she knows well.

"You know that banks get robbed, but you would hope that it wouldn't happen three doors down from where you work," she said.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact the East Lansing Police Department at (517) 337-2599.

Sarah McEvilly can be reached at mcevilly@msu.edu.