Bandits hit bank in Dayton

The three people have robbed nine banks since Jan. 22, including the Bank of America on Summerfield Boulevard.

By: Joseph Harvie
   Local police and the FBI are looking for three people who have robbed nine banks since Jan. 22, including the Bank of America on Summerfield Boulevard on Friday afternoon.
   The Friday robbery was the most violent, with two women in the bank getting injured and a police officer getting into a car accident on his way to the scene, said South Brunswick Police Detective James Ryan.
   At 2:45 p.m. Friday, three men wearing ski masks entered the Bank of America. Two of the men jumped the counter and demanded cash, police said.
   "Threats were made," Detective Ryan said, but would not elaborate.
   One of the men fired a handgun into a glass partition at the bank causing it to shatter, Detective Ryan said. A bullet fragment hit one woman in the face, and has left her with blurry vision, Detective Ryan said. Another bank worker suffered hand injuries from the broken glass.
   The men left the bank in a car, with an unknown amount of cash, and drove it two-tenths of a mile onto Blossom Circle, where they ditched the vehicle and got away, Detective Ryan said. He said the car was stolen, but would not say from where.
   FBI Special Agent Steve Siegel would not describe the suspects because the investigation is still ongoing.
   Detective Ryan said the bank robbers have been connected to several other robberies in the area, including the March 14 robbery of a Bank of America on Parsonage Road, Edison; the March 10 robbery of Unity Bank on St. Georges Avenue, Colonia; the March 2 robbery of a Bank of America in Ocean Township; the Feb. 23 robbery of Provident Bank on Amboy Avenue, Edison; the Feb. 16 robbery of Bank of America on Route 18, East Brunswick; the Feb 8 robbery of Commerce Bank on Stelton Road, Piscataway; the Jan. 25 robbery of PNC Bank on Georges Road, North Brunswick; and the Jan. 22 robbery of Provident Bank, New Brunswick Avenue, Hopelawn.
   Anyone with information about the bank robbery or anyone who was in the Summerfield Shopping Center between 2:45 .m. and 3:10 p.m. Friday and saw anything suspicious should contact South Brunswick Detective Chris Giampietro at (732) 329-4646.
   In addition, Patrol Officer Frank Mongalieri suffered a concussion when his police cruiser was struck head-on, while he was responding to the scene Detective Ryan said.
   Detective Ryan said Officer Mongalieri was heading east on New Road near the Red Roof Inn with his warning lights and siren on when he was struck by a Honda Accord being driven by Daniel Theiss, 25, who was trying to pass another car that had yielded to the police, Detective Ryan said.
   Officer Mongalieri was taken to St. Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick treated and released, but was still out of work as of Tuesday.
   Mr. Theiss was charged with careless driving and improper passing, and refused medical attention at the scene.