2 charged with robbing Albion bank

Customer helps police locate suspects from Rochester

Rothmund

Hoffer

ALBION – A masked robber took off with about $18,000 from the Bank of America shortly after 4 p.m. on Tuesday, but was arrested not long after in Holley thanks to a drive-through bank customer, who provided vehicle identification information to police.

The customer watched the suspect get into a car. The customer then provided a description of the getaway vehicle.

Albion police then alerted surrounding agencies to the vehicle, which was stopped at a Holley apartment complex by Holley police.

Police arrested Jeremy J. Rothmund, 29, and Elyse A. Hoffer, 22, both of 66 Wood Run Commons, Rochester. Albion police said Rothmund was involved in two bank robberies in the town of Greece and another robbery in Monroe County in the past three weeks.

At about 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Rothmund was allegedly masked when he entered the bank at 156 South Main St. He demanded money and threatened a clerk with what appeared to be an explosive device.

During the robbery, a bank employee signaled to a customer in the drive-thru that a robbery was in progress. The suspect left the bank with about $18,000 in cash. The customer who was alerted of the robbery exited his vehicle and approached the bank main entrance. The suspect confronted the customer outside the bank and threatened the customer with the device, Albion police reported.

Reader provided photo – Albion police descended upon the Bank of America after a robbery Tuesday afternoon.

The customer followed the suspect and witnessed Rothmund enter a vehicle driven by Hoffer, police said.

Albion police then alerted surrounding police agencies of the suspect and suspect vehicle information. After Holley police took the two suspects into custody, they were turned over to Albion police.

The money was recovered and the device was found to be false.

Both suspects were charged with first-degree robbery, third-degree grand larceny, and first-degree placing a false bomb or hazardous substance.

Both Rothmund and Hoffer were arraigned in the Town of Albion Court and sent to the Orleans County Jail with each on $250,000 bail. They are scheduled to re-appear at 10 a.m. on July 10.

The Albion Police were assisted by the Holley Police Department, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, Orleans County Major Felony Crimes Task Force, Orleans County District Attorney’s Office, New York State Police and the Greece Police.