Quick Arrest Made in WSFS Bank Robbery 5-5-2014

Incident #: 50-14-11096         Date/Time: Monday, May 5th at 9:06AM

Location:  WSFS Bank, 1486 Forrest Avenue, Dover, DE

Narrative: It took less than 30 minutes for the Dover Police Department to make an arrest in an early morning bank robbery of the WSFS bank on Monday, May 5th.  At approximately 9:06AM, James Wilkerson (33), of Dover, entered the main lobby of the WSFS bank wearing all black clothing with a black mask covering his entire face.  Wilkerson quickly approached a teller and pointed a .357 revolver and demanded money.  The teller complied and the suspect fled from the bank on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.  Witnesses in the bank advised officers that the suspect ran northbound across Route 8, towards Country Club Apartments.  Bank employees also advised that the suspect had a Hispanic accent.  Dover officers arrived on scene within one minute of the 9-1-1 call from the bank advising them of the robbery.  As officers set up a perimeter in the area, they observed loose money in the various parking lots and courtyards of the apartment complex.  Shortly after, officers observed a Hispanic male (later identified as Wilkerson) throw a black piece of clothing material into a dumpster at Country Club Apartments.  Officers immediately contacted  Wilkerson and searched the dumpster, recovering the mask used in the robbery.  Wilkerson also had on black pants at the time.  A search of Wilkerson revealed red dye on his ankle from the dye-pack exploding.  Further investigation revealed that Wilkerson lived in a building at Brandywine Court Apartments.  A later search of that apartment led to the discovery of the money (stained red) within the apartment as well as the handgun used in the robbery.  Wilkerson is prohibited from owning a handgun based on a 2nd Degree Assault conviction from 2007.

There were no injuries to bank employees or customers during the incident.

The following images were taken from the WSFS surveillance system