Another bank robber has struck at multiple locations in a single day in New York City, police said, adding to a string of similar robberies over the past several weeks.
The latest incidents took place in Brooklyn on the morning of Dec. 6, when police say the same man walked into two banks in Bushwick and Coble Hill and demanded money.
He left empty-handed from the first location, a Bank of America at 880 Quincy Street in Bushwick, police said. The man passed the teller a note demanding money. When the employee refused, he walked out at about 9:18 a.m. About 20 minutes later and almost two miles away, he entered a Chase bank at 975 Bedford Ave. in Cobble Hill, authorities said. Again he handed the teller a note, this time the employee complied and gave him an undetermined amount of cash. The NYPD released an image of the suspected robber from a bank surveillance camera. He is listed as 45 to 55 years old, about 5 foot 6 inches tall with a graying beard. He was last seen wearing a light blue knit cap, a black leather jacket, a black sweater and a white shirt. He is the fifth bank robbery suspect who has struck multiple banks in the city since late October, police said. There is no indication the suspects know each other though they follow a similar pattern. In each case, the suspects walk up to a bank counter and passes a note demanding money. If he is refused, the suspect walks out, then repeats the routine at another bank. None of the suspects has displayed a weapon, police said. One of the five suspects has been arrested, but police announced late on Dec. 6 that they had identified another. Authorities have identified 38-year-old Alex Garcia as the man they say tried to rob five banks on Dec. 5, in the space of about three hours. He was turned away at each bank, which all captured his image on surveillance cameras. He left without money as he traced a path from Midtown to the Upper East Side, authorities said. The same man is also suspected of robbing an Apple Bank in Midtown on Dec. 1. That time he left with an unknown amount of cash. Garcia is described as 5 foot 7 and 160 pounds with hazel eyes. Anyone with information about any of these incidents should call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-8477, or for Spanish 888-577-4782. The public can also submit their tips at the Crime Stoppers website at nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting to 274637, then entering TIP57. All calls are confidential.
Bank robbery suspect strikes 2 locations in Brooklyn, matching recent pattern: NYPD
