Police are searching for a gun-wielding robber who got away with an undisclosed amount of cash from a bank near Cerrillos Road and Guadalupe Street at noon Wednesday.

The FBI said authorities are investigating whether the crime was connected to a Jan. 26 robbery of Century Bank, 1790 St. Michael's Drive.

The man who robbed the New Mexico Bank and Trust, 1549 Paseo de Peralta, on Wednesday was described as 5 feet 8 inches tall and about 120 to 150 pounds, with brown eyes. He was wearing a gray or black hoodie and a dark ski mask.

"Witnesses say the suspect entered the bank at approximately noon and brandished a handgun," an FBI news release stated.

After the robber fled on foot, Santa Fe police searched the area near the Santa Fe Railyard and along Paseo de Peralta.

Police said the man in the Jan. 26 robbery was wearing a black ski mask and a hooded jacket and jeans. He was described as about 5 feet 7 inches to 6 feet tall, with a small or medium build.

The Santa Fe University of Art and Design and the nearby De Vargas Middle School were on lockdown for about half an hour that morning after the man was seen running in the direction of those campuses.

The FBI noted that bank robbery is punishable by a 20-year prison sentence for each offense. The penalty increases if a dangerous weapon is used in the crime.

Authorities asked that anyone with information on the robberies call either the Albuquerque FBI office at 505-889-1300 (available 24 hours) or Santa Fe Police Department at 955-5033.

Contact Nico Roesler at 986-3089 or nroesler@sfnewmexican.com.