Cops bust a Little Neck bank robbery suspect after spotting him traveling through Bayside

Police cuffed an alleged Little Neck bank robber last week after an eagle-eyed cop in Bayside saw him in the neighborhood.

Law enforcement sources said Michael Lorenzo, 26, of 71st Avenue in Kew Gardens Hills was traveling in the area of Bell Boulevard and 46th Avenue at 4:25 p.m. on Oct. 25.

Detective James O’Connell of the 111th Precinct happened to be at the location at that time, according to the Queens District Attorney’s office, and recognized Lorenzo’s image from a wanted poster that the precinct disseminated following the Oct. 12 robbery of the Queens County Savings Bank at 254-09 Horace Harding Expwy. in Little Neck.

During the robbery, police said, the suspect allegedly arrived at the bank at 3:32 p.m. on Oct. 12 and presented a demand note to a teller asking for $2,500 in cash. He was provided with $1,000 in cash and fled the scene.

After spotting Lorenzo on Oct. 25, Detective O’Connell stopped and questioned him. During a subsequent search, he allegedly found in Lorenzo’s possession several stolen checks, stolen identification, a substance believed to be heroin, a number of hypodermic needles and a Rolex watch. Detectives later tied Lorenzo to the Oct. 12 bank robbery after further questioning.

Lorenzo was charged with second-degree robbery as well as possession of a forged instrument, petit larceny, possession of hypodermic instruments, criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of stolen property.

Deputy Inspector William McBride, commander of the 111th Precinct, took to Twitter on Oct. 29 to publicly congratulate O’Connell for his efforts.