Detectives are looking for the bandit behind a pair of robbery attempts at two Forest Hills banks in less than five minutes on Thursday afternoon.
Law enforcement sources said the first caper took place at 2:39 p.m. on Oct. 18, when the suspect walked into the New York Community Bank located on Queens Boulevard near 70th Road.
According to authorities, the perpetrator walked up to the teller and presented a demand note. Upon receiving the written request, the employee promptly walked away from the window.
Police said this caused the bandit to get cold feet and flee the scene — but even though he didn’t succeed the first time, he decided to try again at another bank nearby.
Sources said the suspect walked down to the Chase Bank located at the corner of 71st Avenue and Queens Boulevard at 2:43 p.m. on Oct. 18. Again, he presented a demand note to a teller; this time, police said, the employee complied with the request and provided the crook with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Cops said the bandit took the money and ran out of the bank in an unknown direction. Police believe that he made have fled into the 71-Continental Avenues subway station to make his getaway.
Officers from the 112th Precinct responded to both incidents; no injuries were reported.
The NYPD released security camera images of the bandit, who’s described 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, blue jeans and black shoes.
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.
