Couple who allegedly robbed Lawrence bank arrested in Philadelphia.
By: Lea Kahn
Two bank robbers who tricked an elderly Slack Avenue woman into driving them to the Wachovia Bank at the Lawrence Shopping Center and used her as their unwitting getaway driver, were arrested in Philadelphia on Monday, police said.
Michael Giamblavo, 36, has been charged with robbery and theft in connection with the March 8 bank robbery, said Lawrence police Detective Christopher Longo. Mr. Giamblavo’s companion, 44-year-old Tammy Faulkner, has been charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, Detective Longo said.
Police issued warrants for Mr. Giamblavo and Ms. Faulkner after receiving a tip that Mr. Giamblavo was the robber, Detective Longo said. Soon after the warrants were issued, the detective said he received an e-mail from a bank fraud investigation task force that contained bank surveillance photographs of a man who robbed a Philadelphia bank.
The e-mail asked recipients to contact the FBI if they had any information about the suspect. Detective Longo said that when he looked at the photograph, he recognized the man as being Mr. Giamblavo and called the FBI. The agents sought out Mr. Giamblavo and arrested him Monday, he said.
Detective Longo said he was contacted by the FBI Monday, after agents arrested Mr. Giamblavo and Ms. Faulkner. Mr. Giamblavo is being held in a federal jail awaiting a court appearance Friday, and Ms. Faulkner is being held in a Philadelphia Police Department jail awaiting extradition to Lawrence Township, he said.
In the Lawrence bank robbery, Mr. Giamblavo walked into the Wachovia Bank and showed the teller a note that demanded money, police said. He verbally threatened to harm her if she did not cooperate, although he did not display a weapon.
Mr. Giamblavo left the bank with about $1,000 and got into a car that was waiting outside, police said. An elderly woman who was driving the car but who was not charged in the incident drove Mr. Giamblavo and Ms. Faulkner to the Battle Monument area in Trenton, police said.
The couple had approached the elderly woman outside of her residence on Slack Avenue, police said. They convinced her to drive them to the Wachovia Bank, after telling her they had routine business to conduct there, according to police.