SOMERVILLE, N.J. – Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, Somerset County Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor, Somerville Chief of Police Dennis Manning, and Bridgewater Township Acting Chief of Police Captain Paul Payne announced the arrest of Douglas Conroy, age 60, Crestview Road, Bridgewater, New Jersey.
According to officials , Prosecutor Robertson stated that on Monday, December 23, Bridgewater Township Police responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting an attempted bank robbery at the Provident bank, located on Union Avenue, Bridgewater, N.J.
Responding officers were advised that at approximately 11:59 a.m., a Caucasian male, who was later identified as Douglas Conroy, entered the bank and ordered a female teller to fill a white-colored plastic bag with money.
The bank teller walked away from defendant Conroy who left the bank immediately after that without any proceeds. Detectives from the Bridgewater Township Police Department along with detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit responded to conduct the investigation.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that shortly after that, at approximately 2:36 p.m., Somerville Police Officers responded to a 9-1-1 call on a report of a bank robbery at the Chase bank, located on South Davenport Street, Somerville, N.J.
Responding Officers reported the suspect as being described as the same male actor that had attempted the earlier bank robbery at Provident Bank in Bridgewater. Defendant Conroy approached a male teller and ordered him to place money in a white-colored bag. Defendant Conroy threatened and warned the teller by stating he had a gun and that he didn't want to hurt him.
The teller complied with the demands from the suspect and provided defendant Conroy with an undisclosed amount of cash. Defendant Conroy then fled on foot towards the ShopRite shopping center in Somerville. A retired police officer from the Bernard's Township Police Department, who was conducting business at the bank, was alerted of the robbery.
The retired officer followed the suspect to his car and was able to take a picture of the suspect vehicle as he fled from the scene, which was broadcasted to responding officers.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that a detective from the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit, who was aware of the suspect's description, observed the suspect and his vehicle while responding to the Chase bank.
The Major Crimes detective found the suspect parked near the Wells Fargo Bank on West Main Street, Somerville, N.J. Defendant Conroy was apprehended shortly after that with assistance from the Somerville Police Department without incident.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that defendant Conroy was charged with first-degree robbery, third-degree theft, and third-degree attempted theft. Defendant Conroy was lodged at the Somerset County Jail, pending a bail detention hearing.