Suspect Apprehended In 9 Suffolk County Bank Robberies

WEST BABYLON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Police on Long Island arrested a man Friday in connection with nine different bank robberies going back to the month of April.

The same man was suspected in nine robberies at eight banks, according to Suffolk County police. In each incident, he handed a threatening note to the tellers and demanded cash, police said.

Police said the robberies happened at the following times and locations:

• April 8, Chase Bank, located at 991 Main St. in Holbrook, at approximately 1:18 p.m.;
• May 22, Chase Bank, located at 991 Main St., in Holbrook, at approximately 2:23 p.m.;
• June 6, Citibank, located at 835 Montauk Highway in Bayport, at approximately 1:50 p.m.;
• June 10, Capital One Bank, located at 450 Union Blvd. in West Islip, at approximately 5:45 p.m.;
• June 11, Chase Bank, located at 2430 North Ocean Ave. in Farmingville, at approximately 4:05 p.m.;
• June 24, Chase Bank, located at 2650 Sunrise Highway in East Islip, at approximately 2:30 p.m.;
• June 25, Capital One Bank, located at 131 Portion Road in Ronkonkoma, at approximately 5:20 p.m.;
• June 29, Chase Bank, located at 472 Medford Ave. in Patchogue, at approximately 9:40 a.m.;
• July 2, Capital One Bank, located at 1383 Deer Park Ave. in North Babylon, at approximately 9:50 a.m.

Following an investigation, police identified Tony Brinkhuis, 46, of Holbrook, as the suspect, police said.

Police launched a surveillance operation, and arrested Brinkhuis around 10:40 a.m. Friday on West Sunrise Highway in West Babylon, the department said.

Brinkhuis was charged with nine counts of robbery, and was to be arraigned in Suffolk County First District Court in Central Islip on Friday.