4 Armed Robberies In Warminster In A Week, Suspect IDed

WARMINSTER, PA — Police in Warminster have identified a suspect in what they say have been four armed robberies in the township in less than a week.

Police are officially calling Joseph Wolfgang Trout, 23, a person of interest in the robberies, but they also say that criminal charges against him in the cases are expected. Trout has no known address, but is from Horsham and is known to frequent the area of the 600 buildings on E. Street Road.

Warminster Police have responded to a series of armed robberies starting on Wednesday, June 19, when, at 6:15 p.m. the Delta Gas Station at 288 N. York Rd. was robbed. The next day, there was a similar robbery at the Shell gas station at 400 W. Street Rd.

On Sunday, June 23, at 2:33 a.m., someone robbed the 7-Eleven store at 25 Newtown Rd. and, at 11:26 a.m. the same day, the Sunoco gas station at 40 E. Street Rd. was robbed.

In each of the robberies, police say, the robber walked in, pulled out a box cutter and demanded Newport cigarettes. He then ran out of the store each time to a waiting vehicle, they said.

Police thought they almost had their man when, at 10 p.m. on Sunday, they say they encountered Trout in the area of 675 E. Street Road. He ran into a wooded area nearby and there was an extensive search that included a Warminster Police K9 unit and a helicopter from the Philadelphia Police Department.

He was able to get away, police said, but a vehicle was recovered by authorities and witnesses were interviewed.

Police say Trout is wanted for parole violations as well as on retail theft charges from Upper Moreland.

He is described as a white male with numerous tattoos, including one of a dove on his left hand that is believed to be a cover-up tattoo. Police say that anyone who sees him should call 911 immediately, but not approach or try to apprehend him. (Scroll through the photos, provided by police, above.)