UPPER EAST SIDE — Police are searching for a robber who hit two local Chase Banks, making off with a total of $1,000, according to the NYPD.
The suspect first struck the 201 E. 79th St. branch, at Third Avenue, passing a demand note to the teller at about 5:20 p.m. on Oct. 3, police said.
A couple weeks later, on Oct. 20, he tried to rob another Chase at 1191 Third Ave., near 70th Street at 4:27 p.m., again passing a note demanding money, police said. He left empty handed.
Police released surveillance images of the suspect, who's seen with a beard and a mustache, and wearing a white baseball cap in one incident and a black hat in another.
He is described as in his 30s, standing 5-foot-9, with red/blonde hair, and tattoos on his neck and hands.
Anyone with information in regards to these incidents is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).
There's been an increase of 71 percent in robberies reported to the 19th Precinct this October compared to the same month last year, with 12 reported in 2016 and 7 in 2015, NYPD statistics show.
There were 74 robberies reported in the precinct year-to-date, compared to 83 last year, according to the data.
