In the past few years, several banks throughout Putnam County have been victimized by robbers, with the suspects making off with an undisclosed amount of cash, some of whom were never apprehended.
Since 2013, banks in Baldwin Place, Southeast, Carmel, Patterson have been targeted, as well as several in nearby Westchester – including a robbery in Scarsdale last month, where the suspect, sporting dark glasses, long sleeves and a flat-rimmed hat simply slipped the teller a note and walked away with an unknown amount of money.
Just last year, Putnam County National Bank was robbed in Carmel at the Putnam Plaza Shopping Center. The suspect in this case allegedly possessed a weapon, but made off with the cash without incident after slipping a note of his own.
According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s office, “the man approached a teller, handed over a note demanding money and a warning that he had a handgun that he ‘would use if necessary.’” No weapon was shown during the robbery and there were no reported injuries in the case.
Additionally, Fairfield resident Michael McTighe was arrested in his hometown after being apprehended following an attempt to break into a bank at Putnam County National Bank in Putnam Lake.
“The lobby of the bank was closed; however, the drive-in window was open for business,” officials from the New York State police and Putnam County Sheriff’s Department said in a joint statement when they made the arrest. “A customer attempted to enter the building, telling a bank employee that he needed to get something from his safety deposit box.
“As the employee went to unlock the door, she observed a second man wearing a ski mask outside the bank. The teller kept the door locked and the would-be perpetrator ran off and fled in a white sedan.”
McTighe was eventually arrested in Connecticut, extradited and charged with two felony counts of third-degree robbery and one count of attempted third-degree robbery.
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