By Carly Nation
Avon — Police here say Tyler Sibbing, 18, of Danville, may have gotten away with a robbery if he hadn’t continued to drive around the area afterwards.
Sibbing is accused of robbing 81-year-old Dora Thomas of her wallet Monday afternoon as she was attempting to enter Chase Bank at the intersection of U.S. 36 and State Road 267.
Avon Police Det. Brian Nugent said Sibbing was standing outside the bank smoking a cigarette and apparently waiting for a “target” when Thomas pulled into the parking lot. As she attempted to enter the bank while carrying her oxygen tank, Nugent said Sibbing attacked her and fled to his car, parked nearby at All Tune and Lube. He said Sibbing took Thomas’ wallet containing personal checks, identification, and $25 in cash.
According to a statement Sibbing later gave police, he then drove a short distance up the road, stopped at a Lowe’s store, and threw the wallet away, keeping some of the contents.
Nugent said police received the robbery report at 10:57 a.m. and went to process the scene, including speaking to witnesses who gave a description of a blue Chevy Impala with a temporary license plate in the window.
At 2:17 p.m., he said police received a call from a motorist reporting a verbal altercation between two men in a blue Chevy Impala with a temporary license plate in the window. The motorist said the Impala turned off of Dan Jones Road and headed westbound on U.S. 36.
“Upon hearing the description of the vehicle, the suspect was continuing westbound of 36 and actually passed Avon Town Hall, which most of our responding officers were headed towards that call of the verbal dispute,” Nugent said.
The Avon Town Hall also houses the police department.
Nugent said Sibbing was stopped and found to be in possession of Thomas’ property.
He said Sibbing is being charged with robbery resulting in bodily injury, a class D felony; theft, a class D felony; and battery with bodily injury, a class A misdemeanor. He was transported to the Hendricks County Jail in Danville.
Thomas received a bruise to her left hand as a result of the incident. She was treated at the scene.
