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Police seek help in locating serial bank robber, suspect allegedly hit Chase bank on Steinway in 2012

suspectOct. 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.suspect1

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).

email the author: news@queenspost.com
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