Police trying to identify serial bank robber in Delaware

Delaware State Police ask for the public’s help in identifying a gunman who has robbed four Delaware banks.

Delaware State Police are trying to figure out the identity of a man who has robbed four Delaware banks at gunpoint since last June.

Police say the robbery spree started last June at the PNC Bank on Kennett Pike.  The second robbery happened at another PNC branch on Limestone Road last September.  Then, on January 11 and on March 9, the robber hit the same Wilmington Trust bank on Lantana Drive.

State Police Corporal Jeff Whitmarsh says the robber may not be from around the area, because he’s been targeting banks that are on major roads that lead out of state.  “Each one occurs on a major artery that comes in and out of the state of Delaware, primarily Limestone Road, which goes in and out of Pennsylvania, and also Kennett Pike.”  There’s also speculation that the same suspect may be responsible for a similar bank robbery near Pittsburgh.  Delaware detectives have been coordinating their efforts and sharing information about the suspect with police in surrounding states.

Police are also concerned because the suspect appears to be very knowledgeable about weapons and has access to a variety of guns.  “There’s certainly the concern on our part that this guy knows what he’s doing.  He doesn’t appear to be a novice.  He goes in, he has a plan, he carries it out, and he’s been making out with money,” says Whitmarsh.

He says investigators have run out of leads and are looking for help from the public.  He says the key to identifying the suspect is going to be “the public’s ability to recognize this and provide us with the tip that we need.”  Anonymous tips about the suspect can be called in to the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-TIP-3333, but Whitmarsh says detectives would prefer that tipsters call State Police Troop 2 at 834-2630, ext. 6.