Suspect in Attempted Bloomfield Heist Could be Linked to West Orange Case

The description of a suspect in the July 23 bank robbery at Kearny Federal Savings on Pleasant Valley Way in West Orange, matches that of an individual suspected in an attempted robbery Tuesday at PNC Bank on Broad Street in Bloomfield.

According to the FBI's BanditTracker, authorities are looking for a white male in his late 20s or early 30s, approximately 5'10", wearing a stocking mask with eyeglasses underneath and a white baseball cap. He also was dressed in all white.

The suspect of the West Orange robbery also is described as a white male in his early 30s, approximately 5'10", with a stocking cap, eyeglasses and wearing all black. In this robbery, the suspect did not wear a baseball cap.

The Bloomfield robbery attempt is the eighth in a string connected to the suspect. This incident is the only one where the suspect is dressed in white. In the other seven robberies, the suspect is dressed in black.

Excluding West Orange and Bloomfield, the other six cases include a robbery Aug. 4 at Sovereign Bank, 541 Rahway Ave., Woobridge, a robbery Aug. 2 at Bank of America, 32 Route 46 West, Montville, a robbery July 28 at Lakeland Savings Bank, 321 West Main St., Boonton, robberies July 8 at Mariners Bank, 242 Oradell Ave., Paramus, and Bank of America, 392 Route 22, Whitehouse and a robbery June 25 at Wachovia Bank, 1080 Broad St., Bloomfield. The latter three list the suspect as wearing all black, but with a baseball cap and ski mask, not a nylon sock. It is not known is these robberies how much cash was taken.

In all the cases, according to BanditTracker, the suspect enters the bank with a handgun and demands cash. In some of the cases, he also is described as carrying a white plastic bag.

Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at (973) 792-3000. The FBI urges the public to refer to the BanditTracker for more information on the robberies.

Check back to West Orange Patch or Montville Patch as we continue to track this story.