Falls man charged with Lockport bank robbery

LOCKPORT – Lockport detectives arrested a Niagara Falls man at his home about 3 a.m. today and charged him with Friday morning’s robbery of the M&T Bank branch at Pine and Walnut streets in Lockport.

Joseph S. Trusello, 23, was arrested at a halfway house at 431 Memorial Parkway, Lockport Detective Capt. Richard L. Podgers said. He was charged with third-degree robbery and third-degree grand larceny.

Police credited the wide publication of a bank security camera photo of the robber for producing numerous tips that led them to Trusello,

Podgers said Falls police entered the home first “to see if he looked anything remotely like the picture.” Podgers said that Trusello did resemble the photo, so the Falls officers told him that Lockport police were interested in talking to him.

“He sat there and waited for us,” Podgers said.

The money stolen in the robbery was not recovered, Podgers said. The bank has not yet completed an audit to determine how much was taken.

The robber used a note to a teller to obtain a stack of currency, the surveillance photos show. He did not display a weapon.

email: tprohaska@buffnews.com