Robber hits Salisbury Bank branch

DOVER PLAINS, N.Y. — Less than one month after the M & T Bank in Amenia was robbed, another area bank has been hit, this time in Dover Plains. There has been a series of bank heists in recent months. The suspect in most of them has driven away in a dark, possibly black, pickup truck.

The latest robbery occurred just after 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 12, at the newly opened Dover Plains branch of the Salisbury Bank and Trust Co., which has its main branch in Lakeville. The Dover branch opened its doors for business Aug. 1. It is located off Route 22, in the Dover Village Plaza, next to Dunkin’ Donuts.

"This bank robbery is consistent with other bank robberies in this area and Connecticut," New York State Police Investigator Don Bailey said from the scene of the crime.

A very clear picture of the robber was captured by a camera during the theft.

"It’s a new branch so it has state-of-the-art security equipment," said Rick Cantele, president of Salisbury Bank and Trust Co. "The technology is always changing, and the Dover branch has the latest equipment."

Authorities describe the suspect as a white male in his 40s, 5-feet 5-inches to 5-feet 7-inches tall, with dark hair. The bank cameras show him wearing a green jacket, a blue baseball cap with a Nike emblem, sunglasses and light-colored slacks.

He reportedly entered the bank and presented a note demanding money.

"The amount of money that he stole is undetermined at this time," Bailey said.

"For security reasons we don’t like to discuss the amount that has been stolen," the bank president explained.

The subject placed the money into a black nylon-type briefcase before fleeing the scene. He is believed to have traveled southbound on Route 22 in a dark-colored, possibly black, four-door Chevrolet Blazer.

"Witnesses put him in that vehicle," Bailey said, who added that there were only employees in the bank at the time of the robbery, and no customers.

Both the robbery in Amenia last month and this newest incident are believed to be connected to several bank robberies that have occurred recently along the New York and Connecticut border.

"Anybody who can give us assistance would help," Bailey said. "You would think that somebody might recognize him, hopefully from his picture."

"Our people in the branch handled the whole situation in an extremely professional way," Cantele said. "The tellers are human and certainly have an emotional reaction to that, as anyone would, but given that, they have been extremely professional and committed to the bank."

The bank is fully insured, he said.

"I am optimistic the law enforcement in the entire region and particularly in Dover Plains has been working professionally and diligently on this and I’m confident they will solve it," Cantele said. "We remain optimistic about the future of the bank and the Dover Plains branch in particular, and that this will have no negative impact."

The company proceeded with plans to host an opening party on Tuesday night to welcome members of the community.

"Business at the branch has exceeded our expectations," Cantele said of the response to the new location, the company’s first in New York state. "We’ve been warmly welcomed by the people and businesses in Dover and the surrounding towns."

The Lakeville office of Salisbury Bank was robbed in 1997. The thief was later apprehended in Maine. The bank also has offices in North Canaan, Sharon, the village of Salisbury and in Sheffield, Mass.

The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office along with Connecticut authorities are aiding the state police in their investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the state police at their Dover Plains barracks at 845-877-3660, or at 845-677-7300.