By Joe Anuta
A gun-slinging senior knocked off a College Point bank Saturday, terrifying residents and making off with $1,000, police said.
The robbery occurred just before noon at the Capital One Bank at 14th Avenue and College Point Boulevard, when an older black man strolled into the lobby, displayed a revolver and passed a note to the teller demanding money, according to police.
The teller forked over a grand in cash, and the man fled on foot from the bank, police said.
Witnesses to the heist were kept in the bank for more than an hour, where police showed them photos of the suspect and interviewed residents, including Carolina Lopez, 27, of College Point, who was opening a savings account at the time of the robbery. Witnesses described the bank robber as a man in his 60s.
The perp did not make a scene and she did not even know what had happened until after the robbery.
“[The teller] just gave him the money and the guy just walked out,” she said, adding that the man put a bandana over his face, which could not be confirmed with police.
About an hour after the robbery, police had the bank taped off but still allowed confused customers who arrived to use an ATM.
Other officers were combing through College Point Park, where the aging stick-up artist might have fled, police said.
Krismilda Estevez, of College Point, tried to go to the bank to deposit a check and said she was not surprised to see the brazen robbery.
“It’s crazy,” she said. “This neighborhood is getting bad.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, police were still searching for the suspect.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crimestoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), text their tips to 274637 (crimes) then enter TIP577 or log on to nypdcrimestoppers.com. All reports will be kept confidential.
Reach reporter Joe Anuta by e-mail at januta@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
