Man Robs Chase Bank in Tuckahoe

Police are searching for the suspect in a robbery of the JP Morgan Chase bank in Tuckahoe this morning.

The incident occurred at about 8:45 a.m. at the bank, which is located across from the Crestwood train station, at 273 Columbus Avenue, according to a statement issued by Tuckahoe police.

According to Chief John Costanzo, a man entered the bank and handed the teller a blank deposit slip. He placed a Nike drawstring backpack he was carrying on the counter and told the teller to fill it. At first the teller thought it was a prank, but then the man gestured towards his waistband as if he had a weapon, Costanzo said.

After the teller put the money in the bag, the suspect told her to tell the other teller, who was waiting on a customer, to do the same, Costanzo said.

There was no weapon shown and no one was hurt in the incident, according to the statement.

At the time of the incident there were two tellers and one person on the floor, with one customer in the bank.

The man left the bank and got into a dark-colored four-door sedan with out-of- state plates, police said. The car was driven by someone else.

It is not known how much money was taken from the bank at this time.

According to police, the suspect is a 5' 9" black male in his twenties with dark hair pulled into a ponytail. He has light facial hair and police say he was wearing a black and grey striped long sleeve shirt, dark pants, dark Under Armour baseball cap and dark rimmed glasses. 

This is the second time this year the branch has been robbed. The first occurred on March 13. Costanzo said that incident was believed to have been part of a string of robberies that occurred in the area.

A few businesses surrounding the bank were open at the time of the incident.

Natalie Catavero, an employee of Villarina's Market said that earlier in the morning, employees from the bank had come in for breakfast and didn't seem frazzled.

She said that while she didn't see anything happen, police quickly blocked the area after the incident.

At about 10:30 a.m. police barriers were removed from the front of the bank, although the branch remained closed.

Tuckahoe police are asking anyone with information to call them at (914) 961-4800.