April 20, 2017
Federal Bureau of Investigation/for PhillyVoice
The serial bank robber dubbed the "Straw Hat Bandit" by law enforcement.
A Bucks County man is in police custody this week after allegedly stealing nearly $500,000 during a string of bank robberies in the Philadelphia suburbs, federal authorities said.
The United States Attorney's Office announced Thursday that 57-year old Richard Boyle, of Doylestown, was arrested by the FBI in connection to 11 robberies in Montgomery and Bucks Counties between June 2012 and July 2016.
Although dubbed the "Straw Hat Bandit," Boyle used a variety of disguises during the incidents. Authorities allege he wore a mask, a pillowcase, a bandana, a bucket hat and a black baseball cap to conceal his identity.
Investigators said most robberies followed the same pattern, Boyle would verbally demand money from the teller while displaying a black handgun before fleeing the scene.
Prosecutors estimate that Boyle stole $495,686 in cash during the following robberies:
• June 8, 2012, at the Colonial American Bank located at 300 Welsh Road in Horsham
• September 28, 2012, at the First Federal Bank located at 803 Park Avenue in Wrightstown
• January 18, 2013, at the Wells Fargo Bank located at 706 Stony Hill Road in Yardley
• March 30, 2013, at the PNC Bank located at 1015 South Bethlehem Pike in Ambler
• May 24, 2013, at the Harleysville Savings Bank located at 1889 East Ridge Pike in Royersford
• May 24, 2013, at the Univest Bank located at 4285 Township Line Road in Schwenksville
• August 30, 2013, at the Wells Fargo Bank located at 25 West Skippack Pike in Ambler
• January 2, 2014, at the First Priority Bank located at 10 Sentry Parkway in Blue Bell
• January 6, 2015, at the Wells Fargo Bank located at 481 West Germantown Pike in Plymouth Meeting
• July 3, 2015, at the Wells Fargo Bank located at 1675 Limekiln Pike in Dresher
• July 2, 2016, at the PNC Bank located at 1216 Welsh Road in North Wales
A federal grand jury also indicted Boyle for laundering the money through his photography business.
Boyle was charged with 11 counts of bank robbery, 10 counts of using or carrying a firearm during the commission of a bank robbery and 10 counts of money laundering.
