Man Foiled In Attempt To Rob Stafford Bank

STAFFORD TOWNSHIP, NJ - Quick thinking by Wells Fargo bank tellers stopped an apparent bank robbery at the Wells Fargo Bank on Route 72 in Manahawkin on Friday afternoon, Lt. James R. Vaughn said.

Stafford police responded to a hold-up alarm at the bank in the Stafford Square Plaza at 3:20 p.m. on Jan. 26. A man wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and black aviator sunglasses walked into the bank and began writing what appeared to be a note at the banking slip counter, Vaughn said.

The tellers demanded the man remove his sunglasses and hood. He fled the bank and began running west through the Shop Rite parking lot. The tellers hit the alarm. The subject's description matched that of a man who robbed the Chase Bank on Jan. 18, said Vaughn.

"The Stafford Township Police Department does believe this is the same subject from the Chase Bank robbery, and are investigating the incident with the Ocean County Sheriff's Department Criminal Investigation Unit and the FBI," Vaughn said.

The man resembles the lollipop-sucking suspect who robbed the Chase bank.

Anybody with any information regarding this case may contact Detective Drew Smith of the Stafford Township Police Department at (609)597-1189 Extension 8435.

Photos: Courtesy of the Stafford Township Police Department