Abington Bank Robber Pleads Guilty

A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty Thursday to six counts of bank robbery—half of the robberies happened in Abington.

Aaron Thomas, 47, of the 100 block of North 54th Street of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty Thursday to six counts of bank robbery, U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger said in a U.S. Department of Justice press release. 

The robberies date back to May 2009, but the most recent robbery happened Aug. 10, 2012; it ended chase and a crash in Philadelphia in which a police dog later had to be euthanized.

The banks that were robbed are as follows:

• Aug. 10, 2012, PNC Bank, Old York Road, Abington
• Aug. 8, 2012, TD Bank, City Avenue, Philadelphia
• May 17, 2011, TD Bank, City Avenue, Philadelphia
• Sept. 17, 2009, TD Bank, Moreland Road, Abington
• Sept. 17, 2009, TD Bank, Grand Avenue, Philadelphia
• July 24, 2009, TD Bank, Old York Road, Abington

In the Aug. 10 incident, Abington Police said Thomas placed a bag on the counter of the bank, demanded money, and fled in a dark Range Rover.

During the chase, police said Thomas “purposely struck” an Abington K-9 vehicle near the Fox Street exit of Roosevelt Boulevard. The officer involved in the crash was not injured, but the dog, Bandit, was euthanized. It’s unclear whether the crash had anything to do with the dog’s failing health.

Thomas has a lengthy criminal history including several convictions for retail theft and a conviction for robbery in March 2001 in Philadelphia in which he received a sentence of two to five years’ confinement. 

Sentencing is scheduled for June 12 before the Honorable Lawrence F. Stengel.