A downtown bank was broken into — the third such incident since July — and an undisclosed amount of money taken, in burglary early Monday morning.

At approximately 2:40 a.m., officers with the Statesboro Police Department responded to an alarm at the Sea Island Bank's main branch, at the intersection of South and East Main streets, according to Statesboro Public Safety Director Wendell Turner, in a release issued Monday afternoon.

According to the release, a suspect "made forced entry into the bank through a window ... activated an alarm and fled the scene."

The scene was processed and the case is actively under investigation, Turner said.

Advanced Patrol Officer Justin Samples, the public information officer for the department, said an undisclosed amount of currency was taken from the bank, and police are currently determining whether one or more individuals were involved.

The burglary is the third reported at a downtown bank in recent months.

Undisclosed amounts of money were taken during break-ins at Heritage Bank of the South on South Main Street in July, and Farmers & Merchants Bank on North Main Street in October respectively.

In each of those cases, employees reported the overnight break-in upon returning to work and discovering damage.
Both incidents are still under investigation.

It is unknown whether the three crimes are related, Samples said.

"We are investigating all three as individual incidents," he said. "Obviously, there has been talk of them being related. But, we have nothing now to cause us to investigate all three as one case."

In response to the earlier burglaries, Samples said police have increased patrols around banks, and hosted a meeting for managers of area banks to come together for "a discussion on ways to work together (with police) better, and learn things they can do (to bolster security)."

Police are asking that anyone with information concerning the case contact Detective Ben Purvis at the Statesboro Police Department, by calling (912) 763-9911.

Anonymous tips and information can also be submitted at www.tipsoft.com, or by texting "TIPSSPD plus your message" to 274637 (CRIMES).

All information is strictly confidential, Turner said.

Jeff Harrison may be reached at (912) 489-9454.