Man Tried To Fraudulently Withdraw Over $7K From Darien Bank: Police

DARIEN, CT — A 51-year-old man accused of trying to fraudulently withdraw $7,200 from a bank in Darien in May was arrested last week, according to police.

Frank VanDebogart, of Albany, N.Y., was arrested on Dec. 18 at Stamford Superior Court and charged with criminal attempt at third-degree larceny, criminal attempt at third-degree identity theft, criminal impersonation and third-degree forgery, his arrest report shows.

On May 22 at approximately 3 p.m., police officers responded to a report of fraudulent withdrawals at Bankwell on the Post Road in Darien after an employee reported a "suspicious male" trying to take out $7,200 with a fake passport ID, police said.

"The suspect was recognized from prior incidents at other Bankwell locations, including an attempted fraud in New Canaan in May 2024 involving the same fraudulent ID," police said. "Through collaborative investigations with the New Canaan Police Department and the Norwalk Police Department, Frank VanDebogart was identified as a suspect in this series of attempted fraudulent withdrawals targeting Bankwell branches."

VanDebogart was unable to post bond due to his current detention status. According to the CT Judicial Branch website, VanDebogart was arrested by Norwalk police on May 24 and charged with attempt to commit first-degree forgery.

He was also arrested by New Canaan police on July 3 on similar charges in the Darien case.