Learn about the quiet, mid-morning outer East Portland bank robbery that brought police to this busy East Portland intersection …
Shortly after opening, this bank branch in the Lents neighborhood was closed for hours – following a holdup on Thursday morning.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
A Wells Fargo bank branch at the busy intersection of SE 82nd Avenue of Roses and Foster Road was closed to customers Thursday morning, as Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers responded to a reported “Robbery, Priority” call there.
According to dispatch records, the call came in on Thursday, May 7, at 9:45 a.m., reporting a robbery at the bank on SE 82nd Avenue at Foster Road.
One of seven Portland Police Bureau officers returns to his patrol car to radio information about the suspect to his colleagues investigating the robbery.
When this reporter arrived at the scene, “temporarily closed” signs were posted on the bank’s doors. A PPB East Precinct officer stood outside the locked entrance – and after several minutes a bank employee opened the door and allowed the officer inside, while the branch remained closed to the public.
Six additional officers were out looking for the suspect, including a PPB K9 police dog team.
The note on the bank’s front door explains to customers why it is locked, and that they are closed for business today.
In response to an inquiry the day after, PPB Public Information Officer Sergeant Kevin Allen confirmed the crime for East Portland News. “Yes, the PPB is investigating a robbery that happened at that bank yesterday. The suspect did not injure anyone, and no weapons were seen or implied. An undisclosed amount of money was stolen. No injuries were reported. The case is under investigation.”
Sergeant Allen did not provide a description of the suspect – that’s common in bank robbery cases, which are turned over by local police to investigation by the FBI. Bank robbery is a federal crime, and is prosecuted accordingly. So far, no arrests have been made in this case.
An employee lets the officer back into the bank as the investigation continues.
If you have information about this holdup, and have not already spoken with investigators, contact crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, and state that it’s about Case No. 26-131874.
© 2026 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
