Serial Bank Robber Caught

The serial bank robber who has been striking in Massapequa and other nearby communities since May, has been caught, police said.

Michael Acciarito, 39, of 43 Weaver Drive, was busted Friday just hours after committing his final robbery, a holdup of the Roslyn Savings Bank, according to police.

Acciarito was picked up at the Nassau County Probation office where he had a scheduled visit at 3:43 p.m. and surrendered without incident, according to police.

Detectives went to the office because Acciarito was wanted for the attempted robbery of a Bank of America in Lynbrook on June 22.

Police later connected him to five robberies.

Acciarito struck first on May 27, at the Chase Bank at 5310 Sunrise Highway in Massapequa. He allegedly presented a note to a teller and fled towards Unqua Road. Nobody was hurt in this or any of the robberies, but police set up a massive manhunt and Massapequa Schools were locked down after the first robbery.

The next robbery was at a Wachovia Branch on Long Beach Road in Oceanside, June 9. 

He returned to Massapequa on June 3, at the Chase Bank Branch on Sunrise Highway, before striking again at the Bank of America branch at, 2443 Hempstead Turnpike in  East Meadow, police said.

In each of the robberies, Acciarito would pass a teller a note asking for money.

He was charged with five counts of Robbery 3rd Degree and one count of Attempted Robbery 3rd. He will be arraigned Saturday in First District Court, Hempstead.