Alleged Accomplice In Acme Robbery Charged

The alleged accomplice in the robbery of Bristol Township’s Acme last May has been charged by police.

Danielle Marie Drum, 34, of Levittown, was charged Thursday with crimes related to her alleged involved with 34-year-old Jared Aichele’s staged robbery of the store last May, according to court papers filed by Bristol Township police and the Bucks County Detectives.

During an October 2016 interview with Bristol Township Detective Greg Beidler, Drum admitted to helping Aichele plan and stage the robbery that netted about $43,000.

At first, Drum was hesitant but was “all in” after she agreed to help Aichele rob the store. She reportedly said she helped him with logistics and knew it was Aichele when he zip tied her hands in a back room following the heist, police said.

Police said that Drum is visible in security camera footage in the cash room of the Acme where she worked. In the footage, Drum can allegedly be seen opening all the the safes in the room and leaving the door to the room open.

Aichele is accused of riding up to the store on a motorcycle and ushering Drum, who was printing receipts from the CoinStar machine, to the cash room at gunpoint. She then loaded money roughly $43,000 into a backpack Afterwards, he tied her up with black zip ties, authorities allege in court papers.

Detectives discovered text messages from Drum’s phone immediately following the robbery were sent to a phone belonging to Aichele.

After the theft, Drum met with Aichele in the Indian Creek neighborhood in Levittown, where he paid her $7,000 and 35 percocet pills, police said.

In addition to charges related to her role in the staged robbery, Drum is accused of taking $100 from a register earlier this year, police said.

Drum was charged with conspiracy, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal use of a communication facility for her alleged role in the robbery. She also faces theft and receiving stolen property related to the 2017 theft.

Drum was released on her own release on recognizance following her trial last week and waived her right to a preliminary hearing. Her case will head to Doylestown for trial.

Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.