Unarmed robber strikes two local banks

Police are searching for a woman who allegedly robbed one Riverdale Avenue Chase Manhattan Bank on May 20, then another on the same street on Tuesday.

The suspect allegedly used the same method at both locations — first at 5656 Riverdale Ave., then 3775 Riverdale Ave. — asking a teller for ten $100 bills without showing a weapon or making any threats. The woman was described as white, about age 25 and 5-feet 5-inches tall.

Shortly after the most recent robbery on Tuesday, police arrested a woman who matched the description of the perpetrator of the first one, along with a man. However, Deputy Inspector Terence O’Toole, the commanding officer of the 50th Precinct, said authorities planned to release the woman after concluding she had not committed the crimes.

“She was a neighborhood resident who, believe it or not, looks like the [suspect],” Deputy Inspector O’Toole said of the woman who was arrested. “She looks incredibly like her… She’s going to be released in probably a few minutes.”

Police said they believe the suspect also tried to rob two other banks on West 231st Street before striking Chase Manhattan, saying all three incidents in quick succession of one another.

The Chase bank in the May 20 robbery was also robbed on Feb. 4. The suspect in the earlier case was caught and charged with robbing the Citibank at 5671 Riverdale Ave., as well.

According to CompStat 2.0, the NYPD crime statistics index, robberies in the 50th Precinct are up 13.5 percent on the year, despite an 18-year-long decline in robberies since 1998.

In October 2015, five stores within one block of the Chase bank were robbed over the course of a week.

The recent uptick in robberies in the area has some residents wondering if there should be a greater police presence on Riverdale Avenue.

“They drive around a little, but it’s mostly the guys giving out tickets to the cars,” resident Patrick O’Rourke said. “I think they should have something, they should have a patrol car going around.”

Mr. O’Rourke, who has lived in North Riverdale for 22 years, said he was shocked by the recent string of robberies.

“A lot of the banks are getting hit here. I don’t know if they need to have a guard or if that would make any difference,” he said. “They keep it quiet, but there is crime.”

Police asked anyone who recognizes the suspect or share other information to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.