Tip Leads To Englewood, Hackensack Bank Robberies Arrest: Police

ENGLEWOOD, NJ — A tip led to a city man being arrested and charged in connection with two bank robberies in Englewood and Hackensack dating back to October, police announced.

John Nottingham, 73, charged after police found in a hotel room he was staying at what they believe is $1,500 from one of the robberies on Feb. 2, said Chief Lawrence Suffern.

Police released surveillance footage to the public from the robbery. The footage showed a clean-shaven man who "strongly resembled" Nottingham walking along Engle Street, Suffern said. The man in the Hackensack bank robbery footage had a mustache.

More than $3,000 was stolen from the Bank of America branch on Park Place. More than $10,000 was stolen from the Valley National Bank on Hackensack Avenue in Hackensack on Oct. 20.

Hackensack police detectives, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Intel Unit and the FBI's Bank Robbery Squad identified and charged Nottingham with the Hackensack robbery and related weapons charges, Suffern said. The FBI filed a federal warrant for Nottingham's arrest.

After police received the tip from their CrimeStoppers service, Nottingham was arrested at the ShopRite on Palisades Court Feb. 15.

Nottingham was staying on-and-off in a South Hackensack hotel room, which authorities searched. They found $1,500 in cash "that is believed to be" proceeds from the Bank of America robbery, Suffern said. Police also found other "evidence that links Nottingham" directly to the bank robberies, he said.

"This was a great example of an effective and multi-jurisdictional investigation that resulted in two very serious crimes being solved," Suffern said. "CrimeStoppers once again played an important role in bringing a serious case to a successful conclusion by fostering help from the public in cooperation with our law enforcement officers."

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com