Cops: Suspect Steals Car, Steals License Plate, Robs Bank, Now in Custody

A Pennsylvania man with one prolonged crime spree covered by media outlets earlier in the 2000’s is back in police custody Monday night after going on a crime spree that spanned from Philadelphia to Lower Makefield to Falls Township concluding with a traffic stop by police Exeter Township Police in Berks County. 

56-year-old Michael Trumbore is currently being held in Berks County Prison on a State Parole detainer as Falls Twp Police issued an arrest warrant on bank robbery charges, police said noting the Maxatawny man is a serial bank robber.

According to the probable cause, earlier today at approximately 10:30 a.m. the Philadelphia Police Department responded to Hessert Chevy for a vehicle theft report.

Trumbore, had allegedly filled out paperwork for the purchase of a 2016 Kia Sportage from their lot. Prior to the paperwork being completed and being given a tag he took the keys and fled the dealership with the vehicle and did not return. Trumbore had provided a PA driver’s license to start the paperwork process for purchase of the vehicle, said police in court papers. 

About 90 minutes later (12:00 p.m.),  Lower Makefield Police Department responded to the Giant Food store for a report of a theft of a license plate. A witness reported that a white male, 50-60 years of age was seen removing a license plate from a vehicle in the parking lot. He had a grey beard and was wearing a blue, parka type jacket. He was seen fleeing the area in a dark colored Kia Sportage sedan. The witness was able to take photographs of the subject prior to him leaving the area, police said. 

Falls Township Police, about 25 minutes later, were dispatched for a bank robbery report at the TD Bank located at 346 W. Trenton Ave in Morrisville.

Officers responded and spoke with a witness/teller who stated the following: A white male, approximately 50-60 years old, entered the bank and briefly moved around the bank before stopping at the bank slip station to fill out a form. He then approached the teller and passed her a hand written note which stated, “I have a gun and will use it give me the money,” according to police. 

Trumbore was given an unknown amount of US currency with a tracker and fled the bank. Surveillance photographs were obtained while on scene which clearly depicted the suspect in the incident, said police. 

A photograph taken by the witness at the Giant showed the vehicle had a window sticker from Hessert Chevy. Hessert was contacted and confirmed the vehicle theft and Trumbore as being the suspect involved who was identified through his driver’s license. It was discovered that Trumbore is currently on probation for which police contacted his probation officer and showed him a surveillance photograph from the robbery. He was able to positively identify Trumbore as the actor in the TD bank robbery. 

The Exeter Township Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a Kia Sportage bearing the stolen registration from Lower Makefield Township at 3 p.m.  The driver of the vehicle was identified as Trumbore and he was taken into custody.

During a search incident to arrest Trumbore was found to be in possession of a large amount of US currency, police said.