Wauwatosa PNC Bank Robber Charged; Police Say How It Happened

WAUWATOSA, WI — Police in Wauwatosa say a 56-year-old man was arrested and now has been charged in the October PNC Bank robbery in Wauwatosa.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Milwaukee County, Andrew Watzke has been charged with robbery of a financial institution. If he's convicted, he faces up to 25 years prison.

Watzke was held in the Milwaukee County Jail on a $5,000 cash bond. He's due back in court on April 6 for his preliminary hearing. He had his initial appearance on March 3, court records showed.

According to the criminal complaint, Wauwatosa police were sent to the PNC Bank at 2360 N. 124th Street in response to a hold-up alarm that was pressed by a bank worker.

Police said Watzke walked into the bank just after 10 a.m. on Oct. 3, 2019 with a white bandanna covering the lower part of his face.

According to the criminal complaint, a bank teller working that day sensed that a robbery was about to take place, but she spoke to the masked man, saying: "Welcome to PNC; how can I help you?” According to police, the masked man said, “I’m here to get money from you guys! This is a robbery.”

Police said the teller opened a cash drawer, removed money and placed cash in the plastic bag. Police said Watzke then went to another teller where he also demanded they place money in the bag.

According to the criminal complaint, when the second teller opened the lower drawer and showed the masked man that it was empty, he said: “What kind of bank is this? No money!”

Police said Watzke put the plastic grocery bags of money in the backpack he brought with him and zipped up the back pack and exited the bank.

According to police, he got away with $1,989 from the robbery.

Police said that Watzke remained at large until they learned through a confidential informant that he was the person responsible for the Oct. 3 PNC Bank robbery.

According to police, two days after the robbery, officers tracked down Watzke on the 700 block of N. 35th Street in Milwaukee. Police say he was arrested. When police arranged a lineup of suspects for one of the tellers who was robbed, they identified Watzke as the masked man who robbed the PNC Bank, police said.