Middletown cops hunt would-be bank robber

PRESS RELEASE

MIDDLETOWN TWP. POLICE DEPARTMENT

Prepared by Det. Lt. Joseph C. Capriotti

On Thursday April 12, 2007 at about 12:20AM Middletown Twp. Police officers responded to a burglar alarm activation at the Amboy National Bank on Route 36 in the Port Monmouth section of the township. Officer Robert McNair arrived at the bank within a couple of minutes of being dispatched to find the glass in the front door smashed out. Officer Ryan Riffert assisted Officer McNair in searching the interior of the bank where it appeared the suspect looked through money drawers at the teller stations but all the money had been removed at closing.

Video surveillance cameras captured images of a male wearing a dark colored mask, dark baggie pants and a white short sleeve shirt entering the bank and going to the teller stations. It appears that nothing was taken from the bank.

Sgt. William Straniero, the supervisor on the scene, requested a tracking K-9 from Holmdel Twp. Police and Officer William Bernard responded with Harley to assist. Other Middletown officers assisting in the initial investigation and ensuing search were Corporal Douglas Wiatrak, Officers John Kaiser, Carl Roth and Frank Mazza.

The suspect was not located. Detective First Class Adam Finck and Detective William Strohkirch are conducting the follow up investigation.