Teen claims he was tricked in bank robbery attempt

STRATFORD -- A teen claims he was duped into attempting to rob a local bank last month.

The 16-year-old youth, whose name is being withheld because of his age, surrendered to police after being told there was a warrant for his arrest.

He was charged with attempted third-degree robbery and was released to the custody of his mother.

According to police, on June 8, the teen walked into the Bank of America branch at 2944 Main St., and handed an envelope to a teller. Inside the envelope was a note demanding cash or the teller would die.

Police said the teller called over her manager and was showing him the note when the teen inquired, "Why are you two looking at me like that, what did the note say?"

The teen then grabbed the note from the teller and fled the bank.

Police said the teen was identified through the bank's surveillance video.

Police said the teen told them that a man, who he knew in the neighborhood, had given him the envelope.

He related that he was walking home from school when the man, who he only knew as "Ed," waved him over to his car, police said. The man asked the teen to go for a ride with him and drove to an area near the bank.

"He handed me an envelope with something inside of it. He told me to go cash this for him and I thought there was a check inside the envelope," police said the teen told them. The teen said he didn't want to be disrespectful by looking in the envelope.

Police said the teen claimed he was shocked when he learned what the note said. When he returned to the man's car he said the man ripped up the note and then took the teen home.

Police said they are investigating the teen's claims.