It appears two armed bank robbers near Michigan City had planned not only the crime but carefully mapped out their escape.

"I don't know if I want to label it as professional, but they seemed to know the bank fairly well," said LaPorte County Sheriff Mike Mollenhauer. "I think things were planned out with the escape route also."

Mollenhauer on Tuesday appealed to the public for information after releasing surveillance images of the suspects both holding guns while carrying out the robbery at LaPorte Savings Bank at 6959 W. Johnson Road.

Just after 9 a.m. Monday one of the gunmen stood guard over the employees lying on the floor while the other suspect removed an undisclosed amount of money from the cash drawers, police said.

No customers were in the bank at the time.

According to police, the men were in and out in of the bank in about three minutes allowing them to get away before police showed up despite the silent alarm being activated.

A witness followed a white car, possibly a Pontiac Grand Prix, down 400 North and 525 West as the suspects doubled back onto Johnson Road, but lost sight of them as they fled toward LaPorte.

The car had not been located as of Tuesday afternoon.

The photos depict the men wearing hoods over their heads along with bandanas over their faces and sunglasses.

"Hopefully, people will take a look at them and we're asking them to call the Sheriff's Department if they have information," Mollenhauer said.

Detective Sgt. Brian Piergalski can be reached at 326-7700 or 879-3530, ext 2561.