Nicholas Larson, 39, of Meade Road was arrested Tuesday shortly after robbing the Key Bank in Blue Bell. According to the criminal complaint posted by the Whitpain Township Police Department:

This investigation was initiated on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at approximately 10:56 AM, by the Whitpain Township Police Department following the robbery of the Key Bank, located at 20 W. Skippack Pike, Whitpain Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The bank teller called 9-1-1 and advised a white male, approximately 6’3″ in height, thin build, displayed a demand note asking for 50 and 100 dollar bills. The male implied he had a gun but the teller never saw a weapon. The teller was told by the male to put the money in a zip up plastic baggie and then place the money (plastic bag) in a black bag that was around the shoulder/body of the male. The teller complied and the male left on foot. 

Surveillance images of the male bank robber were sent to a crime sharing network and social media in an attempt to identify the male. The male was wearing a baseball cap with the logo “NY” on the front, dark sunglasses, a white zip up sweater under a dark jacket, dark pants and dark dress shoes. The male had a distinctive mole on his left inner ear.. 

At approximately 2:00 PM, a person who is known to law enforcement but for the safety of the reporting party will be referred to as – – – – Concerned Citizen #1 (CC1), made contact with the Whitpain Township Police Department. He/she saw media posts about the bank robbery and is sure the male that robbed the bank is Nicholas Larson and lives at 15 Meade Road in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. Prior contacts with the Whitpain Township Police Department revealed Larson socializes at the Valley Forge Casino in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. 

Upper Merion Police Department Officers and members of the Pennsylvania State Police Gaming Enforcement confirmed Nicholas Larson entered the Valley Forge Casino floor and began gambling at 11:43 AM. At approximately 2:40 PM, Larson was still on the casino floor and wearing the identical white zip up sweater as seen in the Key Bank surveillance. 

At approximately 3:10, a person who is known to law enforcement but for the safety of the reporting party will be referred to as Concerned Citizen #2 (CC2), made contact with the Whitpain Township Police Department. He/she observed media posts about the bank robbery and said the person that robbed the Key Bank in Blue Bell is Nicholas Larson and lives on Meade Road in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. 

Whitpain Township Police Department was able to obtain a New Jersey driver’s license photo for Nicholas Larson. The male who robbed the Key Bank in Blue Bell matched the driver’s license photograph of Nicholas Larson, Larson was located at the Valley Forge Casino and taken into custody. During an interview, Larson provided a confession admitting he robbed the Key Bank in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, due to a gambling addiction.

Larson has been charged with felony counts of robbery, taking property by force and robbery, demanding money from a financial institution, and misdemeanor counts of theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, unlawful restraint and recklessly endangering another person.

Larson was arraigned on November 19th by Magisterial District Judge Marc Alfarano, and bail was set at $100,000 cash. Larson was remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility after failing to post bail. A preliminary hearing is set for December 5th at 10am in front of Magisterial District Judge Suzan Leonard.

Photos: JNET booking and Whitpain Township Police Department