A bank robber eluded authorities yesterday after fleeing First Union Bank in Westminster with an undisclosed amount of money, police said.

Authorities conducted an extensive two-hour search but were unable to locate the man, who showed no weapon during the robbery about 11: 40 a.m. The bank is at 375 N. Center St. in Cranberry Square.

Several customers were in the bank when a man entered and handed a note to a teller, demanding money, said Lt. Dean Brewer, a Westminster city police spokesman. No one was injured, police said.

Within minutes, city officers, assisted by state police from the Westminster barracks, sealed off the area surrounding Cranberry Mall, where police believed the suspect fled.

The suspect might have run to an auto service center outside the mall and changed clothing, but Dean said details remained too sketchy to confirm that possibility.

Police searched the mall without success for the suspect, who was described as a black man, 20 to 30 years old, about 6 feet tall, with medium build and short black hair.

Shoppers in the mall were unaware of the search.

Customers approaching First Union Bank were told that the bank was temporarily closed.

The FBI has joined the investigation, Brewer said.

Pub Date: 10/14/98