Quick-Thinking Bank Customer Snaps Pic Of Suspect During Rochelle Park Robbery
ROCHELLE PARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A quick-thinking customer may hold the key to catching a man who robbed a bank in Rochelle Park on Thursday.
As CBS2's Tracee Carrasco reported Friday night, surveillance footage shows the daring bank robber, without a mask, weapon, or note, walk into the Community Bank of Bergen County.
Customers in the diner next door recall seeing the suspect acting strangely minutes before the robbery.
"The man came in, looked suspicious. We asked him, the host asked him if he wanted something and he said he was waiting for somebody and then he just kept coming and going, coming and going," said Rochelle Park resident John Galasso.
Police said the suspect walked into the bank twice, the first time asking about cashing coins.
Minutes later he handed the teller a red bag and said, "Give me the money and no one gets hurt," police claim.
A female customer standing next to the suspect watched as he walked in, kept her eyes on him, grabbed her cellphone, and snapped a picture as she realized what he was doing.
Residents told CBS2's Carrasco that they weren't sure how they would act in that situation.
"I think she did the right thing," resident Lennie Joseph said.
"That takes a lot of guts on that lady's part, because she didn't know if he was dangerous," added George Materon of Oradell.
Now, because of one quick-thinking woman, police have their biggest clue in catching the suspect.