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