Three Elmhurst Bandits Remain On The Lam
Hoping to get a hot lead from a tipster, the FBI released new video last week showing a brazen armored car robbery at an Elmhurst bank earlier this year.
Three suspects described as Asian or Hispanic males remain at large for the armed heist that occurred on Jan. 31 at the HSBC Bank located at 82- 57 Broadway. Authorities indicated the robbers were linked to a similar heist at a Corona check cashing store at about the same time in 2013.
As previously reported, the Elmhurst caper occurred at about noon on Jan. 31 after a GardaWorld armored car arrived at the HSBC branch for a routine pickup of bank deposits.
Shortly after the truck stopped, as shown in the video, a green Ford Explorer SUV-believed to be either 11 or 12 years old with a dealer or an out-of-state rear license plate and, at that time, covered in ice and rock salt-pulled up to the location, and a man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and jeans exited from the driver’s side.
He and a second perpetrator who followed him out of the SUV- wearing a black winter jacket-then walked into the bank, as shown in the video.
Moments later, the third crook- wearing a black jacket with a Champion “c” logo and an Atlanta Braves baseball cap-exited from the driver’s seat of the SUV and headed into the branch.
As one of the armored car guards exited from the bank pushing a cart full of cash, he was reportedly approached in the lobby by the two thieves, one of whom pointed a .45- cal. handgun in his face. The third suspect joined them and removed the cash.
On the way out of the bank, it was noted, the bandit in the black hooded sweater sprayed the guard with mace, authorities stated. The crooks then fled in the SUV in an unknown direction.
Members of the 110th Precinct responded to the incident. The guard was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries.
The FBI noted that GardaWorld is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the three perpetrators and the recovery of the stolen funds.
Persons with information regarding the heist that could prove helpful are urged to call the FBI’s New York office at 1-212-384-1000. All calls will be kept confidential.
