A bandit who tried to rob two Forest Hills banks just minutes apart last week struck again in Elmhurst on Monday.
According to police, at nearly 1 p.m. Oct. 22, the suspect entered the local Chase Bank, located at 79-06 Broadway, and approached the teller. The crook then passed a note demanding money to the teller.
The teller complied and handed over an undetermined amount of cash to the thief, who then fled the scene. Police sources familiar with the investigation indicated that several thousand dollars were handed over in the robbery.
Police say that the suspect is also connected to two bank robbery attempts in Forest Hills. Police say that at 2:39 p.m. on Oct. 18, the suspect entered a New York Community Bank, located at 107-40 Queens Blvd., and attempted to pass a note demanding money from the teller. When the teller walked away from the counter, the perpetrator fled the scene empty-handed.
Just five minutes later, the suspect entered a Chase Bank, located at 107-36 Queens Blvd., and passed a note to the teller demanding money. The teller complied and handed over an undetermined amount of cash.
The bandit then fled the scene in an unknown direction, though police believe that he may have fled into the 71-Continental Avenues subway station.
Cops described the suspect as a white man between 40 and 50 years of age, standing between 6 feet, 1 inch and 6 feet, 3 inches tall. He was last seen wearing eyeglasses, a blue baseball cap, a gray hooded sweatshirt, and black Adidas pants.
Anyone with information regarding the suspect’s whereabouts can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA), visit the Crime Stoppers website, send a direct message to the Crime Stoppers Twitter page (@NYPDTips) or send a text message to 274637 (CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
