By Paul Shapiro
The suspect: A white male in his early 20s, who is six-feet tall with a thin build, according to detectives.
The subject struck first on the morning April 2 at the Washington Mutual Bank, located at 1304 Broadway, in Hewlett. His most recent robbery occurred on Monday, April 6, at 2:56 p.m. at the HSBC Bank, located at 125 Cedarhurst Avenue, in Cedarhurst.
“We believe this is the same bank robber,” said Detective Sergeant John Giambrone. “This is the second robbery in four days.” Giambrone, who is the head of the county’s robbery squad, wouldn’t make any further comment on the robberies.
During both incidents, the subject handed a demand note to a teller and also displayed what appeared to be a handgun in his waistband, police said. He was seen wearing a similar outfit during both robberies, which detectives described as a dark baseball cap, dark hooded jacket, dark shirt with white lettering and blue jeans.
The subject’s M.O. includes leaving the scene of the crime on foot after allegedly obtaining an undetermined amount of money, according to police. The subject fled on foot out of the rear entrance of Washington Mutual into the municipal parking field and fled on foot out the Cedarhurst Avenue entrance of the HSBC Bank where he was observed heading south on Willow Avenue, the robbery squad reported.
There were six employees and one customer present at the time of the first robbery and three employees and six customers in the bank at the time of the second, according to detectives. No injuries were reported during either robbery, police said.
Another robbery occurred a few days earlier, on March 30 at the TD Bank located at 516 Central Ave. in Cedarhurst. But according to police, “It was not indicated that this was the same guy.”
Detectives ask anyone with information regarding this crime to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.
