Man Wanted In Fort Lee, Hasbrouck Heights Bank Robberies Caught: Police

FORT LEE, N.J. — A man wanted in connection with three TD Bank branch robberies in North Jersey and New York was arrested after police caught him ready to rob a TD Bank branch in Englewood Friday, police said.

TD Bank branches in Scarsdale, New York, Fort Lee and Hasbrouck Heights were robbed on Feb. 10, 13 and 18, said Fort Lee Detective Sgt. Michael Ferraro. In each instance suspect passed a note demanding money, stole an undisclosed amount of cash and then fled, the detective said.

A task force of personnel from the FBI, Bergen County Prosecutor's Office and several North Jersey and New York police departments determined that Eddy Cruz, 41, of New York City, was a suspect and a 2017 red Mitsubishi Mirage was involved in the robberies, Ferraro said.

Task force officers were conducting surveillance Friday just before noon and saw that he parked near the TD Bank branch in Englewood on Demarest Avenue, Ferraro said.

Police took Cruz into custody without incident while he was still inside the Mitsubishi preparing to rob the bank, the detective said.

"This is a great example of local, county and federal interagency cooperation in identifying and arresting a dangerous criminal," said Fort Lee Police Chief Keith Bendul. "Law enforcement officers in New York and New Jersey worked tirelessly to make our region safer."

Cruz was charged with robbery and theft for the Fort Lee burglary and criminal attempted robbery in the Englewood incident.

The Greenburgh and Hasbrouck Heights police departments have charges pending against Cruz for the robberies in their jurisdictions, police said.

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