Serial bank robber says flares are bombs

From the Queens Courier:

In only six days, three northeast Queens banks have been robbed by someone claiming to be carrying a bomb.

On Thursday, January 28, employees at the Chase Manhattan Bank at 196-03 Northern Boulevard greeted what they thought was a customer carrying a computer bag, until he held it out and announced – “See this? This is dynamite. You better give me $75,000 or I’ll blow up the bank.”

Cops say that the robber, described as a black male, about 6-feet tall with a thin build, also had a “dark colored firearm” and was dressed in a dark blue business suit.

On Monday, a black male, between 6 feet and 6 feet 2 inches tall weighing 180 pounds robbed the Queens County Savings Bank at 224-04 Union Turnpike just before noon. He was dressed in a blue trench coat, blue pants and “black sneakers.”

He had a “bomb” that turned out to be four flares taped together with an electronic attachment, which he left behind. The thief fled south along Springfield Boulevard on foot – with about $8,300 in cash.

On Friday, January 22, the Queens County Savings Bank at 247-53 Jamaica Avenue was robbed just before 9 a.m. by a black male described as “5 foot 11 inches weighing approximately 200 pounds.” He also said he had a bomb in his bag – also flares and an electronic accessory.

Officially, the NYPD has not declared the string of bank robberies to be a pattern – there are subtle differences in description of the man and the firearm, but the police source is becoming convinced.

“It’s crazy,” the source told The Queens Courier, asking incredulously, “Three different guys?”