Police seek suspect in bank heist

MANALAPAN — Law enforcement authorities are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating the individual who committed a bank robbery in Manalapan on Jan. 27.

At about 1:34 p.m. the Manalapan Police Department responded to the Wachovia Bank branch at the intersection of Craig Road and Route 9 south following a report that a bank robbery had just been committed at that location.

According to a press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the Manalapan Police Department, the FBI and the prosecutor’s office immediately began a joint investigation into the robbery.

The preliminary results of the investigation revealed that a lone individual entered the bank and passed a note to a teller. The note demanded money and stated that the suspect possessed a gun. No weapon was brandished during the robbery. The robber was given an undisclosed amount of currency and he then departed the bank on foot.

The robber is described as being a white male in his late 40s or early 50s, about 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall and overweight, and wearing a mustache. The suspect was last seen wearing a blue baseball cap, prescription eyeglasses and a black Champion pullover-style hooded sweatshirt.

Any member of the public in possession of information regarding the bank robbery or the robber’s identity or current location is asked to call Detective Michael Clancy of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443, Detective Eric Schmidt of the Manalapan Police Department at 732- 446-4300, and/or Special Agent R.J. Gallagher of the Red Bank Field Office of the FBI at 732-741-0006.

According to the press release, members of the public who believe they know the current location of the individual who committed the Jan. 27 robbery should not make any attempt to apprehend the individual themselves. Rather, the local police department or other local law enforcement authorities should be contacted by immediately telephoning 911.