Investigators spent Thursday looking for suspects in a morning bank robbery on Walton Way.

Two men wearing ski masks, both described as black, about 6 feet tall and weighing about 200 pounds, robbed the Georgia Bank & Trust branch at 1530 Walton Way about 9:15 a.m., witnesses said.

Lt. Scott Peebles, of the Richmond County Sheriff's Office, said the getaway vehicle, a green 1990 Chevrolet Caprice, was reported stolen Wednesday night from Augusta Mall.

"The car is going to be key at this point," Lt. Peebles said.

Investigators are asking any employees of nearby businesses who might have seen the car or those driving it to contact authorities. They also asked merchants to look for money stained red from a dye pack that exploded after the robbery.

"It's not something that can be wiped off easily," Lt. Peebles said.

Deputies said they think the dye pack's explosion prompted the robbers to leave the car and flee into the neighborhood near Emmett and Parnell streets.

Police had tracking dogs searching the area Thursday morning. Some of the stolen money was dropped in the neighborhood. Police were seen looking under houses and inside abandoned homes in the area.

Deputies said a lockdown of nearby Tubman Middle School was to protect pupils. Paine College was also said to be taking security measures, although police said they do not believe the men entered school grounds.

Reach Adam Folk at (706) 823-3339 or adam.folk@augustachronicle.com.