Neighbors help police catch thief

0 Comments | Philadelphia Inquirer, The, October, 2007 | by Barbara Boyer Inquirer Staff Writer

John DeZolt was simply kicking back on his 60th birthday yesterday when be spotted a suspicious motorist near his home in Falls Township.

He kept watching and minutes later the man returned.

"It looked like he was carrying the Olympic torch," DeZolt said. "He had red smoke coming out of his right hand."

The smoke was red dye exploding from a sack of stolen money from the Yardville National Bank on West Trenton Avenue, where a robber passed a note to the teller about 5 p.m. and demanded money, adding "and no one will get hurt."

The teller complied and the robber took off on foot, said Falls Township Lt. Ron MacPherson.

But when he jumped into a gray Honda, DeZolt jotted down what he could see of the tag. Then, he went to his pal and neighbor, Raymond...