Police are searching for a Delaware woman who they say committed three bank robberies within the past few weeks.
The latest incident happened Thursday at 4:27 p.m. at the Shop Rite supermarket on the 1600 block of W. Newport Pike in Wilmington.
Investigators say the woman approached a teller at the WSFS Bank Branch inside the supermarket. The woman produced a demand note for cash which implied that she was armed, according to police. In spite of the note, police say the woman never took out a weapon.
The teller turned over an undisclosed amount of money to the suspect who then fled from the bank in a westbound direction.
Police believe the suspect is also responsible for two robberies that occurred at the Citizen’s Bank Branch inside the ACME on the 4700 block of Limestone Road in Wilmington on Wednesday as well as March 24.
The suspect is described as an average built white female between 24 to 30 years of age standing between 5-feet and 5-foot-2 with a dirty blonde ponytail. She was last seen wearing a blue jacket, black pants, white sneakers and a multicolored Phillies hat.
Police believe the suspect is targeting banks inside shopping centers because they are easier to rob than stand-alone banks.
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"A person is less noticeable when they walk into a supermarket," said Cpl. Jeffrey Hale of the Delaware State Police. "There are a lot more people inside and it's busier than a regular bank branch."
While police don't have a motive, they suspect the woman may have a drug problem. Some local shoppers have their own theory.
"The economy," said Debbi Jones of Wilmington. "People are doing what they have to do to support their family."
If you have any information on the woman’s whereabouts please call Detective Christian Brown at Troop 2 at 302-834-2630 ext. 213 or 6.
