Oct. 8, 2014 By Christian Murray
Call him the 21st Century version of Willie Sutton or John Dillinger.
The police are searching for a man who has robbed eight Queens banks—and attempted to rob two others—in the past 2 1/2 years.
The banks have been scattered throughout the borough—covering Jackson Heights, Middle Village, Long Island City, Astoria, Flushing, East Elmhurst and Sunnyside. In total, the suspect has taken in about $50,000.
One of the robberies occurred at the Chase Bank branch at 28-56 Steinway Street, where the suspect approached a teller and passed a note—before fleeing with $8,783 in cash. That incident occurred on Oct. 13, 2012.
The suspect’s modus operandi has been to enter a bank, pass a note and—on four occasions—display a firm arm. He also tends to hold a mobile phone up against his ear. No injuries have resulted from his spree.
The suspect (see photo) is believed to be between 30 and 35 years old, approximately 6-feet-tall and weighing about 200 pounds.
Police said he was last seen wearing a New York Yankees baseball hat and a button-down short sleeve shirt. He also had a light beard connected to a goatee, tinted eye glasses and a black wrist watch on his left wrist.
The first incident occurred on July 17, 2012, when he allegedly entered into an Amalgamated Bank at 78-01 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights and took off with $1,450.
The latest robbery occurred Saturday, when the suspected entered Chase Bank at 69-55 Grand Avenue, passed a note and left with $5,170.
Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to call Crime stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).
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