Bridgewater Man Charged With Bank Robbery

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — A Bridgewater man is charged with robbing a bank in Somerville and trying to rob another bank in Bridgewater on Monday, authorities said.

Douglas Conroy, 60, of Crestview Road in Bridgewater went into the Provident bank around noon on Monday, located on Union Avenue in Bridgewater, and told a female teller to fill a white colored plastic bag with money, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said.

Conroy didn't have much luck as the bank teller walked away from him. He then left the bank without any money, Robertson said.

Then, at around 2:30 p.m. Conroy went into the Chase bank, located on South Davenport Street, in Somerville and ordered a male teller to put money in a white colored bag, Robertson said.

Conroy allegedly threatened and warned the teller by saying he had a gun and that he didn't want to hurt him, Robertson said.

The teller gave Conroy an undisclosed amount of cash and Conroy ran away towards the ShopRite shopping center in Somerville.

A retired Bernard’s Township Police Officer who was at the bank at the time of the robbery followed Conroy outside to his car and was able to take a picture of Conroy's vehicle as he drove away.

Conroy and his vehicle were spotted parked near the Wells Fargo Bank, on West Main Street, Somerville by a detective from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit.

Conroy was arrested with help from the Somerville Police Department without incident, Robertson said.

Conroy was charged with first-degree robbery, third-degree theft, and third-degree attempted theft. Conroy was taken to the Somerset County Jail pending a bail detention hearing.

Anyone with information relating to this investigation is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office at 908-231-7100, the Somerville Police Department at 908-725-0331, the Bridgewater Township Police Department at 908-722-4111, or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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