Sovereign Bank robbery suspect nabbed by police

Former Lawrence resident held on $350,000 bail.

By: Lea Kahn
   Carl Robert Rabke, 55, a former Lawrence resident, has been charged with one count of robbery and one count of theft in connection with the April 12 robbery of the Sovereign Bank on Franklin Corner Road, according to police Lt. Charles B. Edgar.
   Mr. Rabke, who lives on Norman Street in Roebling, was arrested shortly before 11 a.m. Friday, Lt. Edgar said. Mr. Rabke formerly lived on Fairfield Avenue in Lawrence.
   Mr. Rabke walked into the Sovereign Bank and handed a note to a teller, demanding money, Lt. Edgar said. No weapon was displayed, he said. The teller handed Mr. Rabke an undisclosed amount of cash, and he fled the bank, Lt. Edgar said.
   Mr. Rabke is being held in the Mercer County Corrections Center on $350,000 bail.
   Police officers James Vardenega, Ed Budzinski, David Burns and David Dalle Pazze and Detective Joseph Lech IV participated in the investigation. FBI Special Agent John Mulligan of the Trenton field office assisted the Police Department, Lt. Edgar said.