Police: Suspected Serial Bank Robber Strikes Again
GREENWICH, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- A man linked to two recent bank robberies in Connecticut and New Jersey is believed to have struck again, Greenwich police announced Tuesday.
According to police, the JPMorgan Chase Bank on West Putnam Avenue in Greenwich was held up Sept. 5 by a man police said was likely behind an Aug. 28 robbery at the People's United Bank on Greenwich Avenue and an Aug. 20 robbery at a Wells Fargo in Linden, N.J..
Greenwich police said in the latest incident, the suspect handed the teller a note demanding cash and threatened to shoot the teller if she didn't follow his instructions.
The suspect then gestured toward his waistband, police said. In each incident, the threat of a gun was made but no weapon was ever displayed, police said.
The teller told police the suspect, who made off with thousands of dollars in cash, spoke English with a heavy Spanish accent. Tellers at the other two banks reported the same thing, authorities said.
Witnesses described the suspect in the Chase Bank robbery as a short Hispanic man with a medium build, between 5-foot-4 and 5-6. He was wearing a black baseball cap with a straight brim, a gray thermal shirt and dark pants.
Police said they believe the suspect fled in an older black midsize sedan with possibly tinted windows.
Greenwich police announced Tuesday that the CT Bankers Reward Association will offer a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest of the bank robbery suspect.
If anyone has any information, they are urged to contact any of the Greenwich Police Department's confidential tip lines: (203) 622-3333, 1-(800) 372-1176, tips@greenwichct.org.
Linden Police Capt. James Sarnicki said he believes the suspect is a professional, noting that he seems to dress according to the community he's in.
In upscale Greenwich, where the bank is next to a store selling European hunting clothes, the suspect wore a yellow fedora and matching tie. In Linden, he dressed down by sporting a Chicago Bulls cap, blending in better with the local clientele.
"Linden is a working-class community," Sarnicki said. "People are usually casually dressed walking the streets...He is trying to blend into the community, and that's probably why he was able to get away so easily."
The FBI is involved in the investigation.
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