By Kristina Goetz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Cincinnati police are investigating a Friday lunchtime bank robbery, the city's fifth for 2003 and the third for U.S. Bank on Fourth and Elm streets downtown.

Investigators say an unknown robber entered the bank at 12:47 p.m., displayed a silver handgun and demanded money from the teller.

"The three involving this bank are the only ones that haven't been solved," said Lt. Kurt Byrd, spokesman for the Cincinnati Police Department. "There are some similarities in descriptions. Who knows why this bank was picked?"

The bank was also robbed Feb. 7 and Feb. 18, investigators say.

The robber is described as a black male, 30 to 40 years old, 5-feet-11-inches tall, 180 pounds with a stocky build and a goatee. He left the bank at 201 W. Fourth St. with an undisclosed amount of cash and was seen walking south on Elm Street and into McFarland Alley.

The robber was last seen wearing a black jacket, black knit cap with a red stripe, white tennis shoes and sunglasses. Police say he got into a blue 1990s model Chrysler van and headed west toward Plum Street.

A spokesman for U.S. Bank said no one was injured but had no other comment.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Major Offenders Unit at 352-3542 or Crime Stoppers at 352-3040. Callers can remain anonymous and may receive compensation.

E-mail kgoetz@enquirer.com