Rush Township Police have released surveillance photos following a bank robbery that occurred at 2:07 PM today (Tuesday, August 26, 2014) at the Mauch Chunk Trust (MCT) bank, 226 Claremont Avenue, in Hometown (Rush Township).
Click HERE to view today’s prior TamaquaArea.com story about the bank robbery in Hometown.
Police Sergeant Duane Frederick said the same man attempted to rob a bank in Hazleton. Two men attempted to rob the First National Community Bank (FNCB), 340 West Broad Street, around 1:20 PM today. One of the men tried to enter the bank, but was denied. After realizing he couldn’t get inside, the man fled south toward Vine Street.
Frederick said a man entered the MCT bank in Hometown with pantyhose over his face. Video shows the male wearing white sunglasses with a Philadelphia Phillies baseball cap.
The man made off with an unknown amount of money and red dye packs.
He left the store in the back of the bank and got into a 4-door Ford Explorer Sport Trac pickup truck.
A witness was able to get a license plate HCS-9343 which came back to a stolen license plate from Scranton.
Frederick added that the vehicle was later involved in a hit-and-run in Hazleton on Poplar Street. In addition, a small amount of money flew out of the vehicle during the impact.
Anyone with information is asked to call Rush Township Police immediately at (570) 668-4242 or 9-1-1.