‘New’ Technology Sends Alleged Middletown Bank Burglary to Jail

A New York City man with an "extensive history of arrests in New York State and multiple other states" has been apprehended after police used a fairly new piece of technology to catch him after he allegedly burglarized a bank in Middletown, New York.

A normal middle-of-the-week workday at a bank in Orange County, NY, went from normal to "high alert" after bank employees reported a suspicious person who posed as a contractor unlawfully accessed a secure area at the bank.

Bank Burglary in Middletown, New York

Shortly after 2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, the City of Middletown Police Department (MPD) received a call from employees at the Orange Bank and Trust reporting that a suspicious person who had unlawfully accessed a secure area within the bank according to a police press release.

Suspect Posed as Contactor

Bank staff explained to police that the suspect had allegedly forced his way into a locked interior door at the bank located at 212 Dolson Avenue, Middletown, NY, and proceeded to gain entry into the bank’s administrative offices on the second and third floor, "posing as a contractor".

While on the phone with police staff said they believed the suspect was still somewhere inside of the building, but they were unsure of his exact location.

Police Respond to Investigate

Upon arrival, officers and detectives set up a perimeter around the building and initiated a search using a Police K-9, but the suspect was not located. As police cleared the bank, they proceeded to check the bank’s surveillance camera system, which showed that the suspect had exited the bank several minutes before police arrived and drove off in a yellow Penske rental truck heading southbound on Dolson Avenue.

Massive Search Across Orange County, NY for Suspect

MPD began to search the area for the suspect's vehicle but were unable to locate it at the time. In the meantime, the MPD Detective Division began investigating to try and find more information on the suspect.

As the investigation continued, MPD Detective Kristopher Bailey put together an "investigative bulletin" which was sent out to other area law enforcement agencies advising them to be on the lookout for the truck and suspect.

Similar Crime in Kingston, New York Days Earlier

During the investigation Det. Bailey discovered that a similar incident occurred in the City of Kingston, NY several days prior. Further investigation revealed that the alleged suspect vehicle was identified using a license plate reader camera on Dolson Avenue, which matched the description of the vehicle that was on the bank’s surveillance video

"New" Technology Captures Suspect Vehicle

As police continued to search at 6:45 p.m., they caught a break when a license plate reader in the Town of Woodbury, NY captured the suspect vehicle traveling near Larkin Drive. The Town of Woodbury Police Department (WPD) quickly canvassed the area to try and find it but were initially unable to.

SEE ALSO: WANTED: Police Searching for This Ulster County Man

Shortly after 7 p.m., a WPD officer observed the suspect vehicle on Larkin Drive and attempted to stop it, but the suspect did not comply. Minutes later, the suspect was involved in an accident at the intersection of Larkin Drive and Route 17.

Suspect Flees on Foot

Following the crash, the suspect fled the scene on foot but was quickly apprehended by responding officers in the Town of Woodbury and placed under arrest on charges that he failed to stop for police. Once in custody, WPD contacted Middletown Police to advise them that the suspect and vehicle were located and he was in custody.

Suspect Identified

Police have identified the suspect as 59-year-old Edward Alexander of Manhattan, NY, and have charged him with burglary, a felony. He was arraigned in Middletown City Court the following day and sent to the Orange County Jail. Alexander is a 3-time felony offender, with an extensive history of arrests in New York State and multiple other states, which led to no bail being set.

Police didn't reveal what Alexander allegedly stole from the bank but did say that this is an active investigation.