Crime & Safety

Maple Shade Police Investigate ANOTHER Bank Robbery

Wednesday's robbery at the Columbia Bank on Main Street is the 18th bank robbery in Burlington County in the last two months.

An unidentified man robbed the Columbia Bank in Maple Shade Wednesday morning, the 18th bank robbery in Burlington County in less than two months.

Maple Shade Police said the man entered the bank, at 253 E. Main St., around 11:04 a.m. and handed a demand note to the teller. He fled on foot from the scene.

Police said the suspect did not display a weapon during the robbery.

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The robber is described as a black man, approximately 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet tall, wearing all black, with his face covered by a tight-fitting scarf and a black skull cap. He was also carrying a dark brown messenger-style bag, police said.

Officers from Moorestown and Cinnaminson police departments assisted with a perimeter search, and a K9 unit from Willingboro Police was used to try and track the suspect.

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The Steinhauer and Our Lady of Perpetual Help elementary schools, both across the street from the bank, sheltered in place as a precaution, police said. Officers subsequently performed a walk-through of both schools.

The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office and the FBI are assisting in the investigation.

There have now been 18 bank robberies in Burlington County since Oct. 25, and 23 on the year. A lone man robbed two Delran banks—one at gunpoint—within minutes of each other last Thursday.

Authorities arrested a 22-year-old Camden man, Brandon A. Dickerson, last week who stands accused of robbing four banks in Burlington County, including the Roma Bank in Maple Shade, and one in Haddonfield.

Maple Shade Lt. Jeffrey Hoch said the department has stepped up patrols in the areas near the banks the last several weeks and even had officers stop into the branches.

“But it’s to no avail,” he said. “We’re there, just not when (the crimes are) happening.”

Anyone with information about the Columbia Bank robbery is urged to call 856-234-8300 and reference case 2013-19109.


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