Police: 75-year-old man robs Port St. Lucie bank, but he's caught before leaving the lobby

PORT ST. LUCIE — Police Thursday apprehended a 75-year-old man accused of robbing a Wells Fargo Bank in Tradition, police stated.

Stephen Raymond, who police said recently moved from Maryland to Port St. Lucie, is accused of entering the bank in the 10300 block of SW Village Center Drive, west of Interstate 95, and passing a note to a teller demanding $10,000. Bank employees notified a customer in the drive-thru lane. That customer was an off-duty police officer.

“Our off-duty officer immediately called 911, prompting all available units in the area to respond to the scene,” police stated via social media. “Officers quickly arrived and apprehended the suspect in the lobby of the bank with his bag of stolen cash.”

Port St. Lucie Police said this note was used in an alleged bank robbery Oct. 26, 2023, in Tradition. The accused robber quickly was apprehended in the lobby.
Port St. Lucie Police said this note was used in an alleged bank robbery Oct. 26, 2023, in Tradition. The accused robber quickly was apprehended in the lobby.

Customers and employees were in the bank at the time, but there were no injuries, said Sgt. John Dellacroce, police spokesperson.

It’s the third bank robbery in Port St. Lucie this year, and all have resulted in arrests, according to police.

Other robberies were Sept. 23 at Chase Bank in the 1200 block of SE Port St. Lucie Boulevard and June 21 at Seacoast Bank at South U.S. 1 and Southeast Tiffany Avenue.

Police continue investigating the Thursday incident, Dellacroce said.

Raymond will be charged with robbery and grand theft and taken to the St. Lucie County jail, police said.

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Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on Twitter @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Third bank robbery of the year in Port St. Lucie, police said