By Jonann Brady and Anthony Rifilato
Village of Hempstead police arrested Barry Costa, 46, of 8 Duryea Place, at 1 a.m. on Nov. 22 as he was driving. Police had received an anonymous tip with information about Costa's vehicle and were able to positively identify him from digital photos of him committing a robbery at Washington Mutual Bank in Baldwin, said Det. Thomas Washington.
"That's how good the photos are," said Washington. "They [Hempstead police] did a great job."
Costa has been charged with three counts of third-degree robbery for the robberies of the Fleet Bank on Hempstead Avenue in West Hempstead on Nov. 14, the Washington Mutual Bank at Grand Ave., Baldwin on Nov. 20, and the CFS Bank inside the Pathmark supermarket at Grand Ave., Baldwin, on Nov. 18.
Costa came away with $5,090 from the three robberies, said Washington.
The Fleet Bank, located at 69 Hempstead Ave. in West Hempstead, was hit on Nov. 14 at 10:15 a.m. Police say Costa verbally threatened a teller into putting money into a plastic shopping bag. The teller complied with the demand and the suspect took the money and ran out of the bank.
Four days later, Costa alleged approached a teller at CFS Bank in Baldwin at 6:10 p.m. and told her he had a gun in his coat pocket, which he did not display. Costa then placed an black plastic bag on the counter and told the teller to fill it with cash, which she did, and then Costa fled, said police. No weapon was displayed in any of the crimes, said Washington.
The Washington Mutual in Baldwin was hit at 2:30 p.m. two days later, and police said Costa approached a teller and demanded money with about 10 customers in the bank. No injuries were reported. He was seen walking northbound on Grand Avenue with a female. Washington said police are still investigating his female companion but said that they do not anticipate any further arrests.
Costa was arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Friday, Nov. 22.
