Florida Man Buys Mask At Gas Station To Burgle Unlocked Bank Across Street

Credit: Martin County Sheriff's Office

MARTIN COUNTY, Florida - A bizarre set of circumstances surrounding the burglary of an unlocked bank in South Florida has left the Martin County Sheriff’s Office with questions.

Around 7 p.m. On Saturday, June 15, 2024, Wells Fargo Bank's alarm monitoring service notified MCSO of a bank robbery in progress at a branch located on U.S. 1 in Hobe Sound, Florida.

Dispatchers received the call from the bank security video monitoring system as a “bank robbery in-progress” with a masked man inside the bank.  

"Robbery, meaning the taking of property from someone by force or violence, assault or threat," MCSO noted in a release.

"In progress, meaning it was currently happening." 

MCSO deputies immediately responded and surrounded the bank.  But no one was inside.  Not even the suspect. 

The alarm company later notified MCSO that they waited at least one hour before calling and that the masked man who left empty handed was long gone.

Investigators say that the suspect, now identified as 33-year old Colton Vanhonhenstien of Hobe Sound, was caught on a gas station's security video purchasing a mask.  

He then went across the street to the Wells Fargo bank where he allegedy walked through the unlocked doors of the closed bank. 

Investigators say that the suspect began opening drawers and cabinets, but they were empty, so he left.

 

Credit: Martin County Sheriff's Office 

Based on the security footage, investigators later located and arrested the Florida man on June 19.  

Vanhonhenstien was charged with burglary despite the fact that the only thing he walked away with was the mask that set him back five bucks, investigators say.

"Why the doors were unlocked, and why the alarm monitoring company called in an “in-progress robbery “ on a burglary that happened at a closed bank one hour prior, is still under investigation," MCSO stated.