Whitpain Man Charged in TD Bank Robbery

Whitpain Township Police and Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Ferman have charged Whitpain resident Charles Decembrino, 43, of the 1500 block of Pulaski Drive, with the robbery of TD Bank on Swede Road Aug. 2.

Police said a confidential informant contacted them and positively identified Decembrino in the robbery.

Decembrino faces seven felony charges of robbery with the threat of immediate serious bodily injury, seven felony charges of robbery by committing or threatening immediately to commit any felony of the first or second degree, seven felony counts of robbery-demanding money from a financial institution, seven felony counts of robbery by taking something by force, felony theft by unlawful taking, felony receiving stolen property, seven misdemeanor charges of unlawful restraint, and seven misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment, according to court records.

The contents of a black trash bag found in Decembrino’s garage cemented police’s suspicions during a warranted search, police said.

On Aug. 2, at 1:50 p.m., Decembrino—dressed in a dark suit coat over a white buttoned collared shirt, jeans and dark shoes, with a messenger bag slung across his chest, topped off with a red Phillies cap and sunglasses—allegedly walked into TD Bank at 1799 Swede Road, approached a teller and handed a demand note implying he had a gun, police said.

Decembrino allegedly made off with $6,500, police said.

Witnesses gave an account of the robber as a white or Hispanic male, 5 feet 10 inches tall, stocky build, with a goatee, police said.

After surveillance images were released and published by Patch and local media, a confidential informant came forward to identify Decembrino, police said.

During a search warrant of Decembrino’s home, police found a black trash bag filled with the following: a black Foray satchel with black shoulder strap, a red Phillies cap, a pair of white plastic gloves, a black men’s suit coat, blue jeans, a white dress shirt and black sneakers, police said.

Police said the items were subsequently identified as items allegedly worn by Decembrino during the robbery.

Then, police found a Folger’s Coffee can on the kitchen counter, stuffed with a large sum of money, police said.

Decembrino was arraigned before District Judge Robert Sobeck in Blue Bell, who set bail at $100,000. He remains incarcerated at Montgomery County prison.

A preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 13 at 1 p.m. before Sobeck. Sitting for the prosecution: Assistant District Attorney Lindsay O’Brien.