By The TimesLedger
FOREST HILLS — The FBI and New York City police are searching for a bank robber they described as armed and dangerous who has repeatedly struck in the Forest Hills-Woodhaven area, the FBI said.
The man is wanted for the armed robberies of four banks within a four-week period in March and April, the FBI said. On March 23 the man walked into the Chase Bank at 84-01 Jamaica Ave. in Woodhaven, displayed a silver automatic gun and demanded cash.
A similar description was given of two robberies in succession March 27 at the EAB Bank on 85-15 Queens Blvd. and the Dime Savings Bank at 106-11 71st Ave., both in Forest Hills. Four weeks later on April 25 the Dime Savings Bank at 46-10 Queens Boulevard was hit.
He robbed a total of more than $17,000, police said.
The man was described as white, 40 to 50 years old, 5 feet 9 inches to 6 feet tall with a thin build, said Special Agent Kathleen Grose.
At the time of the robberies the man wore a beige work-style jacket, a dark wool hat and sunglasses, and in the first three robberies he may have also be wearing a cast or brace on his right arm, said Grose.
“We feel like maybe someone out there may recognize him and with their cooperation identify him,” said Grose. “We don’t want anyone to get hurt in the future. We want him to stop.”
Any information can be reported to Special Agent Kathleen Grose or Detective John Pellegriti at 212-384-1000, or to police.
Car taken from woman in Whitestone robbery
WHITESTONE — A 25-year-old woman was the victim of a carjacking shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday, police said.
A man approached the woman on 5th Avenue and pushed her to the ground, took her car keys and then drove off with her car, said Det. Madelyne Galindo, a Police Department spokeswoman.
Police were investigating.
Man robs Bayside bank
BAYSIDE — An unidentified white man robbed the Astoria Federal Savings at 46-08 Francis Lewis Blvd. Tuesday at noon, police said.
The man walked into the bank and passed a note to the teller and demanded money, said Officer George Jensen, a Police Department spokesman. He said the man stole $900.
There were no injuries, no arrests and the investigation was ongoing, said the NYPD.
Man collapses, dies in Bayside argument
BAYSIDE — A 39-year-old man collapsed during an argument with a 40-year-old man that he knew at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at 42-16 215th Place, police said.
The man who collapsed was taken to Flushing Hospital, where he was declared dead, said Officer Chris Cottingham, a Police Department spokesman. He said the medical examiner will determine the cause of death.
There were no arrest and the investigation is ongoing, said the NYPD.
14-year-old girl raped on Elmhurst rooftop
ELMHURST — A 14-year-old girl was raped last Thursday on the roof of an Elmhurst building, police said.
Police found a 24-year-old man on the second floor staircase of the building where police said he had forced the girl onto the roof and raped her, said Detective Madelyne Galindo, a police spokeswoman.
Lewis Monard, 24, of 42-11 Elbertson St. in Elmhurst was arrested and charged with rape, Galindo said.
Police did not disclose the location of the building.
Woman, 32, found dead in East Elmhurst motel
EAST ELMHURST — A 32-year-old woman was found dead at 10 a.m. Friday in a Ditmars Boulevard motel, police said.
The medical examiner will determine what caused her death, said Detective Robert Samuel, a police spokesman.
The woman’s name was not released.
Man, 21, hit by car on Queens Boulevard
WOODSIDE — A 21-year-old man was hit by a 1994 Chevrolet while crossing Queens Boulevard and 63rd Drive at about 10:20 p.m. Monday, police said.
The car was traveling east on Queens Boulevard and hit the man who was walking north on 63rd Drive, said Jerry Varson, a Police Department spokesman.
He said the man was taken to North Shore Hospital with minor injuries.
No summonses were issued.
Man stabbed in stomach in 24th Avenue dispute
ASTORIA — A 21-year-old man was in stable condition at Elmhurst Hospital after being stabbed in the stomach, police said.
The man was stabbed by an unidentified man after a dispute Saturday at about 10 p.m. at 29-19 24th Ave., said Det. Eugene Canapi, a Police Department spokesman.
Police were investigating.
Missing Bayside man found dead in New Jersey
BAYONNE, N.J. — A Bayside man who had been missing since mid-May was found dead in the back of his car Saturday in Bayonne, N.J., a spokesman for the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office said Tuesday afternoon.
Magdy El-Sayed, 39, was found dead in his car in a parking lot on 32nd Street in the northeastern New Jersey town of Bayonne, near the Hudson Bergen Light Rail Transit System, said Daniel Gibney, chief of detectives with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.
El-Sayed’s body was found in the back seat of his car, Gibney said. He appeared to have been suffocated, with bruises on his face and wrists indicating where his hands may have been tied during an abduction, Gibney said.
El-Sayed, whose address was not released, was reported missing by his family on May 14, Gibney said, several days after his abduction actually took place.
Gibney said the abduction was believed to have taken place in front of El-Sayed’s home and was supposedly witnessed by his family. Even though she saw her husband’s kidnapping, Gibney said, El-Sayed’s wife was apparently able to make contact with him by cell phone afterward at which time the Bayside man assured his wife he was fine.
It was unclear as of press time Tuesday what ties El-Sayed may have had to New Jersey, if any, Gibney said. The office said the Bayside man owned several 99 Cent Stores in the metropolitan area.
2 dead in Lindenwood apparent murder-suicide
LINDENWOOD — Responding to a call of an unconscious woman at 106 – 13 79th St. at 2:30 a.m. Saturday, police found an apparent suicide-murder scene.
Sookraine Gangaram had been hit in the head, and EMS personnel declared her dead on the scene, said Officer George Jensen, a Police Department spokesman.
He said the officers on the scene found a man outside the house hanging by the neck from the first-floor window grating, apparently from his own doing. Jensen said the 67-year-old was taken to Jamaica Hospital where he was declared dead.
Police were investigating.
4 kids, driver hurt in Hollis accident
HOLLIS — A truck and a school bus collided at about 3:20 p.m. Monday, injuring four children and the bus driver, police said.
The accident took place at Mayville Street and Ilion Avenue when the school bus, traveling north on Ilion, and the truck heading west on Mayville Street, collided, said Jerry Varson, a Police Department spokesman.
He said that all of the 15 children, ages 9 and 10, were taken to a local hospital and four complained of neck and back injuries. The bus driver, 30, also had neck and back injuries.
No summons were issued.
