Pocono News Section

Arrest Made in Dunmore Robbery Being Called "Inside Job"

Arrest Made in Dunmore Robbery Being Called "Inside Job" - Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 6:18PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Thursday, Feb 18, 2010 @ 06:18pm EST
DUNMORE, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - It was an inside job. That's what police say about a recent robbery in Dunmore and now a former worker is facing charges.

Pamela Strackbein was taken into custody Thursday morning in Carbondale. Dunmore police say her former job was a gas station clerk when the robbery happened. Her cut was just $150 bucks.

As she left police headquarters, Strackbein said she didn't do it. She was referring to the December 11 robbery of Joe's Kwik Mart on East Drinker Street.

"She didn't get her money's worth did she?" Jim Walsh of Dunmore said. "I mean, she threw her life away for $150 bucks. It's just ridiculous."

Police say Strackbein worked with Jonathan DiFraia and two juveniles to commit the hold-up. The robbers were DiFraia and one of the juveniles.

"We believe that she had a conversation with the individual who robbed the store and between both the person who robbed the store and her, they set the whole thing up," Dunmore police chief Pat Reese said.

Strackbein was caught early Thursday morning while working at her new job. She didn't even take Thursday off even though cops were actively looking for her.

"Through tips from the media, we were led to an individual who told us she was working up in Carbondale. We went to that place and had no problems," Chief Reese said.

Investigators say Strackbein told her alleged co-herts where the register key was and what to steal. Customers say the crime is difficult to hear about, especially for the store owners.

"They're very courteous. They're good people. They do their best to provide the best service that they can and then something like this happens," Walsh said.

Strackbein was arraigned Thursday afternoon. She was released on $25,000 unsecured bail. As for the two juveniles who helped in the robbery, police say charges are pending.