Heist Shocks Downtown Trenchport

Brazen Bank Robbery Leaves City Reeling, Police Launch Full-Scale Manhunt

By Lamont Greer,

Crime Reporter

April 11, 2025

Trenchport, AL — Under cover of darkness and with chilling precision, three masked suspects executed a high-stakes robbery at Trenchport Trust Bank late Wednesday night, stealing an unknown but rumored to be large amount in cash and leaving a trail of destruction and unanswered questions in their wake.

According to an incident summary released by the Trenchport Police Department, the robbery took place between 9:07 p.m. and 11:46 p.m. on April 9. The lead suspect identified by fingerprints as Lennox “Nox” Santiago out of Louisiana and two yet-unconfirmed accomplices forcibly entered the bank after intentionally knocking out power to District 1.

The suspects pried open teller drawers then looted the cash while systematically disabling the bank’s security systems in this high stakes heist. Multiple cameras were destroyed, and a laptop was smashed. A silent alarm was triggered after backup power briefly flickered on, but by the time the signal reached the system, the suspects had already vanished.

The getaway was as violent as the entry: The suspects rammed a vehicle into an electrical transformer before the robbery, causing a blackout that masked their movement. After the heist, they fled the bank on foot, regrouped at a dark-colored SUV with rear-end damage — sustained in an earlier collision with city infrastructure — and disappeared into the night.

Bank manager Fred Banks, who discovered the scene the following morning, described the aftermath in stark terms.

“It was like they had rehearsed it,” Banks told the Tribune. “They knew what they were after, and they didn’t waste time. When I walked in and saw what they did to this place—drawer after drawer pried open, our cameras ripped down, our tech smashed—I knew it wasn’t random. This was surgical.”

Trenchport Police Chief Marcus Dawson addressed the public Thursday afternoon in a tense press briefing.

“This was not a crime of desperation. This was a coordinated, deliberate attack on our city’s institutions,” Dawson said. “We are actively pursuing every available lead. And let me be perfectly clear — these suspects will be found. Trenchport is not a playground for predators. I will personally make sure there is hell to pay for this.”

The Tribune reached out to the Mayor’s office. While the Mayor did not personally comment, his secretary issued a brief but potent statement:

“This robbery hurts our city. The Mayor has assured Chief Dawson that no expense will be spared in bringing these criminals to justice.”

The collaboration is already in motion. The City of Trenchport, Trenchport Police Department, and Trenchport Trust Bank have jointly announced a $15,000 reward, per suspect, through the Crime Stoppers program for any tip that leads to the arrest of the two unknown suspects.

This marks the largest bank robbery in Trenchport in over a decade, and gives explanation to the major incident this week to city power that paralyzed part of District 1. While no injuries were reported during the robbery, the community impact has been swift and severe.

Local business owners in the area have expressed outrage over the blackout and shaken confidence in the city’s infrastructure protections.

“It’s not just the bank. When the lights go out in Trenchport, everything goes dark — our homes, our stores, our sense of safety,” said one resident who declined to be named.

Investigators are working with regional and federal agencies to analyze surveillance gaps, trace the vehicle involved, and cross-reference known associates of Santiago and the suspected accomplices. Chief Dawson declined to confirm whether warrants had been issued but reiterated,

“We know who we’re looking for. If you’re helping these people hide, we’re coming for you too, without regard or mercy.”

Authorities urge residents not to approach any suspects if seen, as they are considered dangerous.

As Trenchport reels from this latest shock to the system, one question looms: If criminals can take from the city’s vaults without firing a shot — what else can they take next?

Crime Stoppers tips can be submitted anonymously by phone or through the department’s online form.