FINANCIAL DISTRICT — If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
That was the apparent philosophy for an alleged Downtown bank robber suspect who police say hit up three banks in less than an hour on Friday, striking out at the first two before scoring at the last location.
The suspect — described as standing 6-foot-tall, weighing 200 pounds, and between 45 and 50 years old — started at the Chase Bank at 155 Water St. at 4:33 p.m. Friday, police said. He passed the teller a note demanding money but left empty-handed, police said.
The man then tried the Citibank at 111 Wall St. at 4:42 p.m., passing the teller a similar note, but he was turned away again, police said.
The man then trekked up a few blocks to the Sovereign Bank at 2 Gold St., where he passed another note to a teller at 5:19 p.m., police said.
This time, the teller handed the suspect a stack of cash, and he fled on foot, police said.
Police did not say how much money the man escaped with, but a surveillance photo shows him receiving a pile of bills a couple of inches thick.
The suspect did not display a gun at any of the banks, and no one was injured, police said.
The man was last seen wearing a black and gray knit hat, a dark coat, jeans and white sneakers, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at ww.nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by texting tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are confidential.
