Cops: Pair arrested in Shirley bank robbery

Two men were arrested and charged with the robbery of a Shirley bank Tuesday afternoon after a Suffolk police lieutenant said he saw them trying to get away in a taxicab, police said.

Paul Lynch, 28, of 118 River Rd., Shirley, and Christopher Catalano, 28, of 43 Woodland Dr., Mastic Beach, were charged with second-degree robbery just 20 minutes after the robbery at the Bridgehampton National Bank branch at 630 Montauk Hwy., police said.

There were no reported injuries.

After giving a note to a teller demanding cash, Lynch and Catalano fled the bank with the money on foot at 3:05 p.m., police said, but then telephoned for a taxicab.

Their descriptions already were broadcast to area officers, and Seventh Precinct Lt. Timothy Dillon saw two men who fit the descriptions in the cab, police said.

Officers stopped the taxi at Auborn Avenue and Beatrice Drive at 3:20 p.m., police said, and Lynch and Catalano were arrested.

All of the bank's money was recovered, police said.

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Both men were to expected be arraigned Wednesday at First District Court in Central Islip.