Nassau Police Arrest 2 Men Wanted For Rash Of Recent Bank Robberies
MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - Two men accused of robbing a number of banks on Long Island have been caught, police and other officials announced Thursday.
As WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported, Nassau County police announced the arrests of two men in connection with a rash of bank robberies across Long Island.
According to police, Adam Baron, 18, and Jaime Ramirez, 25, worked together to hold up nine banks, CBS 2's John Slattery reported.
Nassau Police Arrest 2 Men Wanted For Rash Of Recent Bank Robberies
"These two are believed to be responsible for six of Nassau County's bank robberies," said Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano.
Baron and Ramirez are also suspected in three Suffolk bank jobs. The Nassau hold-ups were in Merrick, Farmingdale, Plainview, North Bellmore and Rockville Centre.
The suspects rented a U-Haul pickup truck with Arizona plates to use as the getaway car, police said.
According to police, one man would be the lookout and getaway driver while the other went into the banks, handed the tellers a note and got away with cash.
"The subjects went into the bank with a demand note. The demand note had the same wording each time. That's how we knew the two individuals [were connected]," said Nassau County Police Robbery Squad Sgt. John Giambrone.
Each of the notes, given to tellers, mentioned a weapon.
"The note indicated that the individuals had a gun, but no weapon was ever shown," Giambrone said.
Police said the suspects used the stolen cash to buy heroin and other drugs. Baron and Ramirez were arrested at the Melville apartment they shared.
Police said on Jan. 17, the pair pulled off two robberies and an attempted robbery – all within 90 minutes.
Since Jan. 1, police said there have been 21 bank robberies on Long Island - 12 in Suffolk County, and nine in Nassau. Police said the robberies do not likely represent a long-term increase.
"I find it to be cyclical. We've had years where we've been - 2008 we had to high of 85. And then just two years ago, we had 27," said Giambrone.
Police said in most all the robberies, there is a common motive for fast cash.
"When you see individuals as active as these guys were, it's usually indicative of some type of addiction -- either drugs, alcohol, gambling," Giambrone said.
To reduce their losses, banks, in recent years, have given tellers less money to handle. One investigator says a thief might get more out of a 7-Eleven.
Both men were charged with several counts of robbery and attempted robbery at their arraignment in First District Court in Hempstead on Thursday.
Bail was set at $2 million for Ramirez and $1.5 million for Baron.
They are due back in court on Monday.
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