Thieves Snatch Nearly $200,000

Two canvas bags containing about a $180,000 payroll were stolen from a branch of the Harvard Trust Co. by two men who falsely identified themselves as employees of an amored car service, police said.

Police said the men, dressed in light blue uniforms and carrying sidearms, approached the payroll teller at the normal delivery time, asked for the specific payroll and the exact amount.

The money, in two bags, was turned over to the men, who walked out of the Harvard Square bank.

The larceny was discovered when the legitimate armored car service employees arrived to pick up the money.

The bank president, Thaddeus Beal, declined to identify the authentic armored car service or the firm.

Cambridge police withheld information on the larceny until late last night.