West Windsor Suspect Linked To Multiple Bank Robberies: Police

WEST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP, NJ — A Hillsborough man has been arrested in connection with the attempted robbery of a bank in West Windsor that took place on Monday, police said. Mark E. Elbaum, 52, has also been charged in several other bank robberies throughout the region that have taken place over the last month.

West Windsor police responded to the Santander Bank branch at 44 Princeton-Hightstown Road at about 10:14 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 29. Elbaum had fled the bank before they arrived, and was described as a white, heavyset man in his 50s with multiple chins.

A man matching the same description then robbed the Valley National Bank on Route 27 in North Brunswick at about 10:50 a.m., police said. He fled before North Brunswick police arrived on the scene. Police secured the scene and made sure no one was injured.

Multiple law enforcement agencies working together were able to identify Elbaum as the suspect, police said. He was then arrested near his home at about 6:30 p.m. Monday night, without incident.

“On behalf of Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri and Chief Robert Garofalo, we would like to thank our public for being so involved in assisting bringing this individual to justice,” police said. “In addition, the work of all of the investigators and officers involved was exemplary.”

He has also been charged in bank robberies that took place in Franklin Township and Bridgewater, according to authorities in Somerset County.

At about 9:33 a.m. on Oct. 1, the Franklin Township Police Department received a call that a robbery had occurred at the Financial Resources Federal Credit Union located on Easton Avenue, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office.

It was reported that a man entered the bank demanding money from the bank teller. The bank teller ultimately turned over cash to the male based on his demands and he subsequently fled the bank on foot.

At about 12:05 p.m. on Oct. 23, the Bridgewater Township Police Department received a call that a robbery had occurred at the Peapack-Gladstone Bank located on East Main Street. It was reported that a man entered the bank demanding money from the bank teller. The teller ultimately turned over cash to the man, who then fled the bank.

Elbaum was charged with two counts of second-degree robbery in Somerset County. Elbaum was lodged in the Somerset County Jail, pending a detention hearing. In North Brunswick, he has been charged with first-degree robbery. Investigations involving the other jurisdictions are currently pending.

A man matching the same description was sought in a bank robbery in Middlesex Boro on Oct. 25, but there was no indication that Elbaum has yet been charged in that crime.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Investigations Lt. Fow at fow@westwindsorpolice.com or lead detective Jelinski at jelinski@westwindsorpolice.com or 609-799-0452, the police department’s dedicated anonymous tip line.

Law enforcement agencies involved in this case included:

• West Windsor Police Department;
• FBI;
• North Brunswick Police Department;
• Bridgewater Police Department;
• Hillsborough Police Department;
• Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office; and
• Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.

The attached image was provided by the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office