Crime & Safety

Police Nab Suspect in $20K Wells Fargo Bank Robbery Attempt

Odell Taitt, 32, is being charged with robbery attempt in New Providence and robbery of PNC Bank in Tewksbury Township just hours later. Suspect is now lodged in Hunterdon County Jail.

The suspect in the at Wells Fargo Bank early yesterday afternoon was nabbed by Bernards Township Police after he robbed a PNC Bank in Tewksbury Township just hours later.

At approximately 2:24 p.m. Tuesday, Tewksbury Township Police Department responded to a reported bank robbery at PNC Bank. Based on the description broadcasted by Tewksbury Police, Bernards Township Police stopped a vehicle on Route 78 eastbound in their town.

The Bernards Township Officers reported that both the suspect and vehicle matched the description given out by Tewksbury and the driver also matched the description of the suspect in the Wells Fargo robbery attempt in New Providence.

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New Providence Detectives responded to the location of the car stop and were able to identify the suspect from surveillance photos.

The suspect's vehicle was impounded and the suspect was transported to Hunterdon County Prosecutors Office where he was interviewed in regard to the alleged crimes. A search of the suspect's vehicle pursuant to a search warrant revealed evidence of the crimes in both New Providence and Tewksbury.

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Odell Taitt, age 32 of Denver, PA, will be charged in the robbery of PNC Bank in Tewksbury Township and the robbery attempt in New Providence. The suspect is currently lodged in Hunterdon County Jail.

The robbery attempt at Wells Fargo Bank on South Street yesterday occurred at approximately 12:07 p.m.

The teller reported that a black male entered the back door of the bank, walked up and handed her a note indicating that he was robbing the bank. The lead teller was able to hit the silent alarm and the suspect fled on foot prior to police arrival. No weapon was shown or implied, and no injuries were reported.

"[The teller] talked to the lady next to her and he got spooked and left the bank. We were here a minute later and he was gone," said Deputy Police Chief Scott Torre told Patch just before 2 p.m. Tuesday. "We have Union County Crime Scene, we have the FBI on their way."

The suspect was being described as a black male with a light-to-medium complexion, 5'6" to 5'8" tall, medium build, wearing a dark-colored, mid-length coat with tan trousers and a light-colored shirt and a light-colored short brimmed hat.

The suspect fled into a crowded Village Shopping Center located adjacent to the bank and no vehicle was observed.

The bank was shut down for the remainder of the day as an investigation was being conducted by the New Providence Police Department Detective Bureau in conjunction with Union County Prosecutor's Office Major Crime Bureau and the FBI.

"The tellers did a great job, did what they needed to do," Torre said.


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