The Wells Fargo bank in the center of Verona was hit by a robber this morning.
According to Verona Police Chief Doug Huber, the robber, who police describe as a Hispanic man in his mid-to late-20s wearing a dark hoodie, handed a teller a note demanding money just after 10 a.m. No gun was witnessed. It is not known how much cash was taken from the bank, which had been a Wachovia branch prior to that bank’s takeover by Wells Fargo. The branch is located at 599 Bloomfield Avenue opposite the civic center.
Police are searching for the suspect, who they say is about 5-feet, 5-inches tall. He was wearing burgundy baseball cap at the time of the robbery, which police recovered at the scene. Chief Huber said other police departments in our area have been notified, and the county sheriff’s office brought in its K-9 unit. Because it was a bank robbery, the FBI also reported to the scene.
Robberies, of any sort, are extremely rare in Verona. Chief Huber said he does not recall any bank robberies in recent years. A gas station was targeted by robbers in February 2009 and the attendant on duty, Daniel Pritchard, was killed. The last major business robbery was that of a jewelry store in 1974.
