Chesco man charged in 7 armed bank heists

A Chester County man has been charged with committing seven Delaware bank robberies at gunpoint.

Delaware State Police said this morning that 43-year-old Joseph Mieluchowski, of Landenberg, turned himself in on Thursday to face charges in connection with the heists, which occurred between June 2009 and July 2011.

Police say he was armed with a handgun and demanded cash in all of the cases, and sometimes threatened bank customers.

Detectives identified Mieluchowski as the suspect after getting a tip in late 2013, police said, and a warrant for his arrest was issued this week.

He faces charges that include 16 counts of first-degree robbery, 18 counts of aggravated menacing, seven counts of wearing a disguise while committing a felony, and one count of kidnapping.

He is being held at the Howard R. Young Correctional Institute on $935,000 bail, police said.

The bank heists occurred at the following branches:
- PNC Bank located at 3840 Kennett Pike in Greenville on June 4, 2009
- PNC Bank located at 5325A Limestone Rd. in Wilmington on Sept. 4, 2009
- Wilmington Trust located at 151 Lantana Dr. in Hockessin on Jan. 11, 2010
- Wilmington Trust located at 151 Lantana Dr. in Hockessin on March 9, 2010
- WSFS Bank located at 4401 Concord Pike in Wilmington on Aug. 20, 2010
- PNC Bank located at 3840 Kennett Pike on Greenville on June 23, 2011
- PNC Bank located at 5325A Limestone Rd. in Wilmington on July 6, 2011