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Susquehanna Patriot Bank Robbed In Boyertown

The Susquehanna Patriot Bank on the corner of East Philadelphia Avenue and North Chestnut Street was robbed Monday, March 21, 2005.

A blonde woman 5’2” tall and weighing approximately 135 pounds entered the bank with the intention of robbery. She was wearing a pair of sunglasses and a purple or blue, hooded sweatshirt which was pulled over her head.  According to Boyertown Police Chief Barry Leatherman she was carrying a beige bag when she entered the bank at around 10:40 a.m.  She approached a teller and told her that she had a gun and then demanded money.  An undisclosed amount of money was handed to the suspect and she left the bank through the rear entrance and fled on foot in an unknown direction. The suspect was caught on surveillance footage, according to officials, but it was still unclear if she fled in a vehicle or if an assailant was involved.  

For approximately two hours, police had searched for the suspect by setting up checkpoints.  Police secured multiple intersections, stopping and checking motorists.  Also involved with the search was a K-9 unit from the Exeter police, a state police helicopter, Colebrookdale District, New Hanover, Bally, Douglass (Mont. County), Lower Pottsgrove and Amity police forces.  The search ended around 12:30 p.m. 

The FBI was contacted about the robbery and they have joined the investigation.  Boyertown police monitored the scene until the FBI got there and they could brief them on the situation.  According to a spokeswoman for the FBI, Jerri Williams, there was a woman who attempted to rob the Phoenixville Federal Bank and Trust in Royersford on Friday.  The suspect in that case gave a demand note to a teller who became confused about what the woman wanted and the woman left the bank without any money.  It’s not clear if this was the same suspect involved in the Susquehanna Patriot Bank robbery. 

This is the first bank robbery in Boyertown borough in 10 years. 

The vice president of communications for Susquehanna Patriot Bank, Alison VanHarskamp, said that there were no customers in the bank at the time of the robbery but could not comment on how many employees were present at the time. 

Susquehanna Patriot Bank was closed for the rest of the day Monday but was expected to open this morning as scheduled at 8 a.m. 

We’ll keep you updated with any further developments in the case.

Posted by Bethanne Reinert on 03/22/05.  Edited by Zachary Reinert on 03/22/05.