Cops probe two Suffolk bank robberies

Police are investigating two separate bank robberies that occurred within a half-hour of each other on Wednesday in Suffolk County.

The first robbery was reported at 12:33 p.m. at a TD Bank branch at 6190 Jericho Tpke., Commack.

A man entered the bank, "demanded cash and indicated to a teller that he was armed with a gun," Suffolk police said in a news release. The teller complied and the man fled on foot east on Jericho Turnpike, police said.

In the release, the suspect was described as about "6 feet tall, unshaven, with a stocky build and in his 20s. He was wearing a black wool hat, light gray hooded sweatshirt, black track pants, black wool gloves and dark gray sneakers."

The second robbery occurred at 12:51 p.m. at Chase Bank, 595 Sunrise Hwy., West Babylon.

A man "approached a teller, demanded cash and indicated that he had a gun. The teller complied with the suspect's demands," police said.

The man drove off in an older-model, four-door, tan-colored sedan, heading west on the Sunrise Highway service road, police said.

The suspect wore an orange construction helmet, blue work overalls and work boots, police said.

"He was also wearing glasses with black frames, black gloves and a bandage over his right eye, which was used to disguise his appearance," police said. "He is described as being in his late 30s to early 40s, clean-shaven and with a heavyset build."

A police spokeswoman said the robberies "do not appear to be related at this time."

Detectives urge anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS. All calls will remain confidential.