Female bank robber is double trouble in Rockville Centre

Nassau County detectives have released bank surveillance photos of a woman who allegedly pulled off two bank robberies in Rockville Centre in as many days. She is also suspected of involvement in a third heist, of a bank in Great Neck Estates, shortly after the second robbery in the village. There were no injuries in any of the incidents.

According to police, the woman first robbed the Community National Bank, at 333 Merrick Road, on Aug. 27 at 11:17 a.m., handing the teller a note demanding money and fleeing on foot with an undetermined amount of cash. There were four employees and no customers in the bank at the time.

The second robbery took place in an Astoria Federal Savings Bank branch at 339 Merrick Road shortly before 10 a.m. on Aug. 28, police said, when there were eight employees and eight customers in the bank. According to police, the robber again handed a teller a note and then ran through the bank's front doors with an undisclosed amount of money.

Police said they believe the same suspect was responsible for a third holdup, in a Community National Bank branch on Middle Neck Road in Great Neck Estates, about an hour later last Saturday. There were three employees and no customers in that bank at the time.

The subject is described as a black woman in her late 20s or early 30s, 5 feet 8 to 6 feet tall with a thick build -- weighing about 180 pounds -- and having shoulder-length, curly dark hair that had blond highlights on Saturday. She wore large sunglasses during each of the robberies.

In the first heist she was wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans and carried a denim jacket. During the robberies on the second day she wore a large gray hooded, zippered sweater, black tights and dark sneakers.

Police ask anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

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