Homeless man accused in string of bank robberies
Charles Riehl, 43, is led out of Nassau police headquarters in Mineola for arraignment in Hempstead on Saturday, June 28, 2014. Riehl, who is homeless, faces third-degree robbery charges stemming from a string of recent bank robberies in Nassau and Suffolk counties, police said. Credit: Howard Schnapp
Nassau County police arrested a homeless man on Friday for allegedly committing a string of bank robberies this month.
Police said Charles Riehl, 43, robbed two banks in Oceanside and one in Wantagh between June 6 and June 26.
Riehl on Friday also attempted robberies at two Chase Bank locations on Montauk Highway in Copiague, in Suffolk County, and successfully robbed an Astoria Bank on Montauk Highway in West Babylon, police said.
Suffolk County Police notified Nassau police of the attempted robberies at 3:46 p.m. Friday and said the suspect left as a passenger in a taxi, police said.
Nassau officers found that taxi at a Stop & Shop on Old Country Road in Hicksville and found Riehl outside the store on foot, police said.
Riehl had an outstanding warrant for a parole violation, police said.
He was charged with three counts of third-degree robbery and violation of parole, and scheduled for arraignment Saturday in First District Court in Hempstead, police said.
Police said Riehl robbed an Astoria Bank on Long Beach Road in Oceanside on June 6, a Roslyn Savings Bank on Long Beach Road in Oceanside on June 23 and an Astoria Bank on Wantagh Avenue in Wantagh on June 26.
Suffolk County police said they have not yet charged Riehl.
