Police in Council Bluffs are investigating a pair of attempted bank robberies that took place this (Friday) morning. Officials say both incidents occurred at separate branches of the People’s National Bank.

The first happened at around 10:30-a.m., when a white man with short hair, wearing a black coat and black shirt, alleged displayed a gun furing a robbery at the People’s Bank location at 333 West Broadway.  Bluffs Police Sgt. Chad Meyers said the suspect fled on foot toward Bluff Street, but he may not have gotten away with much cash, as a duffle bag was seen in the drive-through lane at the bank, with ink splattered on the cement around it. That would indicate a dye-pack…designed to make the cash unusable and identify a robber…may have exploded. Police officers and bank officials covered up the bag with a bucket to maintain the scene.

Meyers said the second robbery, occurred at around 10:50-a.m., at the 16th Street People’s National Bank location. No other details were immediately available concerning the second robbery.

Preliminary reports indicate two male suspects were involved. Both were still at large late this (Friday) afternoon. Officials say a third People’s Bank facility, at 201 Bennett Ave., went into lockdown following the first two robberies.