Alexander Welter

State police have obtained two arrest warrants for the man they believe robbed a bank inside the Giant Eagle store at Clearview Mall in Center Township on Sunday afternoon — and later stole a friend's pickup truck.

Troopers searched all day Monday for Alexander J. Welter, 22, of Oakland Township but could not find him.

According to investigators, Welter shortly before 1 p.m. walked into the Citizens Bank branch wearing a motorcycle helmet and used a handwritten note to demand money.

“This is a robbery. I am armed. $3,000. No die (sic) packs,” the note read, according to police.

He made off with “a couple thousand” dollars, police said, declining to disclose the specific amount. No weapons were seen or displayed during the robbery.

Police suspect Welter made his getaway on a motorcycle that he drove to the Oakland Township home of a friend with whom he had been staying. He ditched the cycle and took the friend's pickup, investigators said.

Trooper Chris Balcik said police released a photo of the suspect to the public in hopes it would lead to Welter's whereabouts.

A felon, Welter is described as white, about 6 feet tall with a medium build, blond hair and blue eyes. Investigators believe he may be driving the allegedly stolen pickup truck.

Police identified the suspected robber after the owner reported his truck missing. The victim told investigators that he believed Welter had taken the pickup.

Investigators said they recovered from the victim's garage the getaway cycle as well as the helmet and sweat shirt the suspect allegedly wore during the robbery.

District Judge Lewis Stoughton on Monday signed two felony arrest warrants for Welter. He is charged in the bank heist with robbery, theft, receiving stolen property, terroristic threats and simple assault.

In the other warrant, he is charged with theft, receiving stolen property and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

According to Butler County court records, Welter in April and May pleaded guilty to charges in six separate criminal cases from 2016.

Among those convictions was a felony count of receiving stolen property. Other convictions include unauthorized use of a vehicle, possession of an instrument of crime, possession of drug paraphernalia and retail theft.

He was sentenced in those cases and immediately paroled, having served a four-month stint in the Butler County Prison. He was released Dec. 13.

Anyone with information on Welter's whereabouts is asked to call 724-284-8100 or 911.