Cops probe bank robbery incidents

Detectives in Nassau and Suffolk are trying to determine if an attempted bank robbery in Plainview Tuesday and a successful bank robbery in South Huntington about 40 minutes later are related.

Suffolk County police confirmed detectives had been in contact with Nassau police after realizing descriptions of the alleged bank robber in each incident were similar.

Witnesses in the incidents described the bank robber as a 6-foot tall man wearing blue jeans, sunglasses and a white Nike baseball capt. The banks are about eight miles apart.

The attempted robbery took place at a Chase bank branch on Woodbury Road in Plainview at 4:20 p.m., police said.

The assailant, described as about 25 years old, 6-foot tall, wearing a green pullover sweater, blue jeans, sunglasses and a white Nike logo baseball hat walked into the bank, handed the teller a demand note but fled before getting any money. He was last seen walking through the parking lot toward South Oyster Bay Road, police said.

Ten employees and four customers were in the bank at the time. No one was injured.

About 40 minutes later and eight miles away police said a man walked into the TD Bank branch on Jericho Turnpike in South Huntington, handed the teller a demand note, threatened to use a gun, got cash -- and fled the scene.

That robbery occurred at 5 p.m. Police said the man fled on foot on Dix Hills Road.

The robber in that incident is described as 6-foot tall, wearing a dark-colored long-sleeve shirt, blue jeans, white sneakers, dark sunglasses -- and a white Nike hat. Police provided surveillance photographs of the suspect, hoping someone will recognize him.

Police in Nassau are asking anyone with information regarding the Plainview incident to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-244-TIPS, and police in Suffolk are asking anyone with information regarding the South Huntington incident to call the same number. All calls will remain confidential, police said.