Bank robbery suspect identified by ‘creepy eyes’

BRIDGEPORT – A Stratford man, who witnesses described as having “creepy eyes,” is suspected of robbing banks in Stratford, Milford and Woodbridge.

Scott Watkins, 41, of Glenwood Avenue, was charged Wednesday with second-degree robbery and third-degree larceny for the holdup of a Stratford bank last month.

Police said they expect to arrest him shortly in the other bank robberies.

During Watkins’ arraignment Wednesday afternoon, Assistant State’s Attorney Stephen Lojo urged Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Reid to set a high bond for Watkins, citing the serious nature of the offense.

Watkins’ lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Christina Angelone asked the judge for leniency.

The judge ordered Watkins held in lieu of $100,000 bond and continued the case to May 11.

According to Stratford police, On March 13, officers responded to the Milford Bank on Main Street for a call of a robbery.

Police said a man, dressed in a hooded sweatshirt entered the bank and grabbed a stack of deposit slips off a table.

The bank manager came out of her office on seeing the “suspicious man” and mouthed “robbery?” to the male teller as the man approached the teller’s station, police said.

Police said the man then placed a hand-written note against the teller’s glass partition. They said the teller initially had trouble reading the note but upon further examination determined it said “give me all your money.”

The teller then handed the man $2,000 plus another $250 in bait money and the man grabbed it and fled, police said.

Police put out a broadcast for the robber and a short time later were contacted by Milford police who said the suspect matched a man who robbed a bank in their city on Feb. 27 and an earlier robbery of a bank in Woodbridge, police said.

In the meantime, police said detectives reviewed surveillance video from businesses around the bank and saw the suspect enter a home on Glenwood Avenue, a short distance from the bank.

Police said witnesses familiar with Watkins viewed the bank’s surveillance video and positively identified Watkins as the bank robber. Each of the witnesses said they could not mistake Watkins because of his “creepy eyes,” police said.