N.Y. Woman Charged

With Bank Robberies

By Andrew Gorosko

The FBI has charged a New York State woman with bank robbery in connection with a string of six bank robberies that she allegedly committed in Newtown, Brookfield, Danbury, and New York State on May 21 and 22.

Under arrest on bank robbery charges is Pamela Kaichen, 44, formerly of Chappaqua, N.Y., according to the FBI. Kaichen was arrested May 27 in New Castle, N.Y. She was arraigned on the charges May 28 in US District Court in White Plains, N.Y.

Late on the morning of May 22, People’s Bank at Newtown Shopping Village at 6 Queen Street was the target of a well-planned, low-key bank robbery. It was one of six banks police say Kaichen robbed that day and the day before.

There were no injuries in the People’s Bank robbery. Police said Kaichen fled with “several thousand dollars.”

The People’s Bank robbery was the first bank robbery in Newtown since a March 2000 incident at Fleet Bank at the same shopping center. The Fleet Bank robbery was the first bank robbery in Newtown in decades.

Newtown police provided this account of the People’s Bank robbery.

“At approximately 11:32 am, a lone female entered the bank, waited in line and then approached a teller, demanding money from her drawer…The suspect indicated she had a weapon, at which time the teller complied…The suspect then walked out of the bank and drove away in a red vehicle before police were notified.”

At that time, police described the bank robber as a white woman, in her 30s, who was wearing a baseball hat and a yellow rain jacket. Police described her as having a slim build and being between five feet, six inches, and five feet, eight inches tall.

Although the woman never showed a weapon in People’s Bank, she told the bank teller that she would start shooting if police were notified of the robbery, police said. All told, the woman was in the bank for “a few minutes” before fleeing with the stolen money, police said.

Kaichen then left the shopping center driving a small red automobile, with New York marker plates, entering Queen Street and driving away. At that time, the robber, who was later identified as Kaichen, was seen wearing what appeared to be long, light blond wig.

While she was in People’s Bank, she appeared to have short dark hair, or possibly long dark hair that was concealed beneath the baseball cap.

Newtown Detective Sergeant Robert Tvardzik participated in a conference on Friday, May 23, with police from the jurisdictions in which the other bank robberies occurred. After comparing notes, police investigators concluded that the same woman had committed all six robberies.

Late on the morning of May 21, Kaichen allegedly robbed the Bank of New York in Yorktown, N.Y. That afternoon, police believe she robbed HSBC Bank in Scarsdale, N.Y.

Late on the morning of May 22, People’s Bank in Newtown was the first of the four banks that Kaichen robbed that day, according to police. Starting at about 2:30 pm and during a 35-minute period, Kaichen allegedly sequentially robbed First Union Bank at 108 Federal Road in Danbury, Union Savings Bank at 200 Federal Road in Brookfield, and Fleet Bank at 105 Mill Plain Road in Danbury.

On May 28 in federal court in White Plains, Kaichen was arraigned on bank robbery charges for the robberies at People’s Bank in Newtown and at First Union Bank in Danbury, according to the FBI. Also, Kaichen was charged with committing the two bank robberies in New York State. She was held without bond for transfer to Connecticut.

Additional charges involving the robberies at Union Savings Bank in Brookfield and Fleet Bank in Danbury are expected to be filed in court.

Investigators obtained a strong lead into solving the robberies after a Danbury police officer recollected late on May 22 that a woman motorist whom he had ticketed that morning for failure to wear a seatbelt was apparently the same woman who was recorded in bank robbery surveillance photos.

Michael J. Wolf, the FBI agent in charge of Connecticut, said in a statement, “This multi-jurisdictional investigation illustrates the excellent cooperation between the [FBI] and other partners in the law enforcement community.”

Mr Wolf commended Newtown police, among other law enforcement agencies, for their work in helping to solve the crimes.

If she is convicted, Kaichen faces up to 20 years in prison, plus large fines, for each bank robbery committed.

Following the May 22 robbery at People’s Bank, a police officer stood guard at the front door of the closed bank, which was cordoned off with bright yellow “Crime Scene” tape prohibiting access to the building. Multiple police cars were parked at the scene. Detectives were inside the bank interviewing witnesses to the crime. Curious motorists traveling through the shopping center drove past the closed bank in a drizzle, attempting to learn what had happened.

After the March 2000 robbery at Fleet Bank in Newtown, Eric Duffey of Norwalk received an 18-month jail sentence on a charge of third-degree robbery. Duffey reached that plea bargain agreement in Danbury Superior Court in August 2000. Duffey, who was unarmed when he entered the bank, stole almost $10,000 from a teller.