COLUMBIANA COUNTY, Ohio --


St. Clair Township Police said a van found on Mulberry Street in East Liverpool was stolen in Canton, Ohio, and may have been involved in a violent bank robbery.  

The van was reported stolen from a resident.  Police say in the early morning of March 7, two men attempted to rob a credit union in Canton, but failed.

"When they entered the credit union, they soon discovered that all the tellers and the availability to cash was encompassed in bullet proof glass," said St. Clair Township Police Chief Don Hyatt.

Several hours later, police believe two men drove the van down to Calcutta and robbed the PNC Bank. Police described it as one of the most violent bank robberies they've seen.  

Hyatt said his department was flooded with phone calls the next day  from people who saw two men get out of the van on Mulberry Street who matched the description of the robbers.  They're described as two black men, wearing light-colored hooded sweatshirts and bandanas covering their faces.

"The community has been really great about it. Since late in the afternoon the day it occurred, our phone lines have been burning up with good information," said Hyatt.

St. Clair police are now working with police in Canton, the FBI in Youngstown and  the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation.  The van has been processed for evidence and will be returned to its owner.

The PNC Bank in Calcutta is now offering a $5,000 reward for anyone with information that leads to the arrests and conviction of those responsible.

Anyone with information is asked to call police or the NEWS9 Lauttamus Security Crime Busters Tipline at 800-862-BUST.