Crime & Safety

Clark Bank Robber Nabbed After Months-Long Spree, U.S. Attorney Says

Newark man accused of robbing eight banks since last November, while his girlfriend drove the getaway car in two of the heists, affidavit said.

A Newark man has been accused of eight bank robberies—including one in Clark—spanning four counties since last November and his girlfriend has been implicated as the getaway driver in two of the incidents, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Thursday.

Andrew Thomas, 32, has been charged with eight counts of bank robbery and his girlfriend, Jennifer Pinto, 32, of Newark, has been charged with conspiring to commit two of the robberies, including the Cranford heist last month at the Garden State Community Bank, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said.


Thomas is accused of robbing two banks in Newark and one each in Edison, Clark, Islen, Watchung, Cranford and Hillside between Nov. 20, 2012 and Wednesday's robbery of the Lusitania Savings Bank in Hillside, Fishman said.

Thomas wore similar clothes and used similar tactics during each of the robberies, Fishman said. Thomas pointed what appeared to be a silver or black handgun at the bank tellers and demanded money in all but two of the incidents, Fishman said. Thomas also wore either a black V-neck shirt or blue button down shirt in several of the robberies, Fishman said.

According to an arrest affidavit, Thomas began the robbery spree at a Wells Fargo Bank on Broad Street in Newark on Nov. 20, 2012 when he made off with $9,000.

Thomas then robbed the Investors Savings Bank in Edison on Jan. 10 of $7,789.50, the affidavit said.

Thomas made off with $7,836 from the Investors Savings Bank in Clark on May 3, the affidavit said.

Thomas stole $1,576 from the Garden State Community Bank in Islen on May 30, before making off with $11,266 from the JP Morgan Chase Bank in Watchung just days later on June 6, the affidavit said.

Nearly two months passed before Thomas returned to the Newark Wells Fargo Bank on July 30, but left without any money when the teller walked away from the customer service counter, the affidavit said.

Thomas then hit the Garden State Community Bank in Cranford where he stole $9,988 on Aug. 10, the affidavit said. The spree ended Wednesday when Thomas stole about $1,230 from the Lusitania Savings Bank in Hillside, the affidavit said.

A surveillance camera outside the Hillside bank showed a silver Chevrolet Equinox driving away after the robbery, the affidavit said. A license plate reader helped trace the registration to Pinto, the affidavit said.

FBI agents found Pinto and the Equinox at her parents' home, the affidavit said. A black Mitsubishi was also found in Pinto's driveway and linked to the Clark bank robbery, the affidavit said.

A long-sleeved button down shirt that appeared to be worn in the July 30 Newark incident and the Cranford robbery were found in Pinto's home, the affidavit said.

A black-colored "cap" gun, which appears to be the same weapon used in several of the robberies, was also found in Pinto's home, the affidavit said.

Thomas ultimately surrendered to authorities and admitted to the robberies, the affidavit said.

Pinto is accused of driving Thomas to and from the robberies of the JP Morgan Chase Bank in Watchung on June 6 and the Cranford heist on Aug. 10, Fishman said.

Thomas, who has been detained, faces 20 years and a $250,000 fine for each bank robbery count. Pinto, who has been released on $100,000 bond, faces five years and a $250,000 fine for each conspiracy count.


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