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Police Collar Bank Robber Who Tried to Strike Same Branch Again, NYPD Says

By Shaye Weaver | March 23, 2017 4:24pm

YORKVILLE — Police officers chased down a man who was preparing to rob a Chase bank for the second time in five days — collaring him with his demand notes in hand, the NYPD said.

Fernando Rios, 38, who has been arrested at least 50 times before, was caught outside the Chase branch at 181 E. 90th St. while committing robbery a second time at the location, police said.

Rios walked into the bank at 8 a.m. on March 21, when a Chase Bank employee recognized him from a previous robbery he committed at roughly the same time on March 17, making off with $1,000, police said.

The employee called 911, and Rios fled down Third Avenue empty-handed when police arrived, the NYPD said.

Officers caught up to him nearby and found two notes in his pocket saying, "Give me the money now, I have a gun," authorities said.

Police said no gun was found.

Rios was charged of robbery and attempted robbery at his arraignment Wednesday, when the judge set bail at $75,000 cash or $150,000 bond. He didn't post bail and is being held at the Manhattan Detention Complex. He's due back in court on March 27.

Police said Rios has been arrested more than 50 times in the past, but they could not provide further details.

He was charged with sex abuse and forcible touching for squeezing a woman's butt in East Harlem on May 20, 2016, court records show. And just last month, on Feb. 20, Rios was charged with petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property for shoplifting a phone charger and another item from Kmart near Penn Station, records show.

His attorney did not immediately return a call for comment Thursday.

Chase Bank did not immediately return a request for comment.

The 19th Precinct congratulated its officers on Wednesday for making the arrest: