MAP: 10 sophisticated bank heists in 2 NYC boroughs since 2011 match similar pattern

ByMike Waterhouse WABC logo
Monday, May 23, 2016
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NEW YORK (WABC) -- New York City police said there's been a pattern of similar, sophisticated heists at banks across two city boroughs dating back to 2011.

According to NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce, the break-in at Maspeth Federal Savings in Rego Park, Queens, over the weekend was the tenth one of its kind.

Boyce said the thieves seem to arrive at the banks just after midnight, gain access through the roof and empty out the safety deposit boxes from the vault.

In the incident in Queens over the weekend, the empty safety deposit boxes were left on the roof. The thieves cut through wood and metal on the roof to gain access to vault.

Police released a list of locations where the break-ins have occurred. Half of them were successful - the others were failed attempts. It appears all have occurred in Brooklyn and Queens:

(scroll down for map)

1. Saturday, January 16, 2011

Sovereign Bank

1769 86th Street, Brooklyn

- Attempt: Failed

2. Sunday, August 6, 2012

TD Bank

1602 Avenue U, Brooklyn

- Status: Completed

3. Wednesday, November 22, 2012

TD Bank

2173 86th Street, Brooklyn

- Attempt: Failed

4. Saturday, February, 23, 2013

TD Bank

1122 Kings Highway, Brooklyn

- Attempt: Failed

5. Friday, May 17, 2013

TD Bank

1104 Avenue J, Brooklyn

- Attempt: Failed

6. Sunday, November 4, 2013

Citi bank

1455 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn

- Attempt: Failed

7. Saturday, December 28, 2013

Santander Bank

75-15 31 Street, Queens

- Attempt: Successful

8. Sunday, March 29, 2015

Santander Bank

2357 86th Street, Brooklyn

- Attempt: Successful

9. Friday, April 8, 2016

HSBC

4410 13th Avenue, Brooklyn

- Attempt: Successful

10. Monday, May 23, 2016

Maspeth Federal Savings

64-19 Woodhaven Blvd, Queens

- Attempt: Successful

Here's a map (click here for a larger, interactive version):

There are some similarities in looking at this list:

- Most of the heists occurred on or adjacent to a weekend

- 8 out of 10 attempts have been in Brooklyn

- The last four attempts have all been successful

- The first 5 heists were close in proximity, the next two were farther out and then the eighth was back near the first 5

Boyce said while the incidents seem very similar, they have not necessarily been linked.

Police said the heists are elaborate, as the people involved tend to disable the security cameras. However, they have been caught on some camera.

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