Bank Teller Arrested for Allegedly Stealing from Rockville Bank

Rockville police this week arrested a bank teller for allegedly stealing an estimated $45,000 from a bank vault.

Ngawang Jigme Geleg, 32, of the 100 block of Billingsgate Lane, in Gaithersburg, was arrested on Nov. 10. Geleg was charged with theft and theft-scheme. He was released on $25,000 bond.

On Nov. 7, Rockville police officers were called to the Columbia Bank at 1903 Research Court, for the report of a theft. Officers met with the bank’s fraud and risk manager, who said an audit performed on the bank vault found that the vault was short by approximately $42,000. During the course of the investigation, officers learned that on Nov. 7 an audit was performed on Geleg’s cash drawer, which was found to be over by several hundred dollars, according to the release. When the branch manager questioned Geleg about the discrepancy, police said Geleg admitted to taking money out of his drawer on the previous day and putting money back into the drawer when he came to work on Nov. 7. Geleg further admitted to taking approximately $30,000 from the bank’s vault, according to police. The loss to Columbia Bank is estimated to be $45,149. Bank officials believe the thefts from the vault occurred over the past two weeks.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Rockville City Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit at 240.314.8938. Anonymous tips can also be provided at www.rockvillemd.gov/police/forms/suspicious.html.

About Krista Brick

Krista Brick is a multi-media journalist with Montgomery Community Media.

View all posts by Krista Brick