Police: Suspect in pair of robberies the same man

Police said Thursday that surveillance photos show that the same man is suspected in bank robberies Tuesday in Plainview and South Huntington.

"It appears to be the same guy," Suffolk police Major Case Squad chief Lt. Gerard Pelkofsky said. "Unless he's got a brother, we're operating under the premise it's the same guy."

"It's the same person," Nassau police spokesman Det. Vincent Garcia said.

Police said the man they're looking for attempted to rob a Chase bank branch on Woodbury Road in Plainview on Tuesday at 4:20 p.m., but fled without any proceeds.

About 40 minutes later, police said, the man robbed a TD Bank branch on Jericho Turnpike in South Huntington -- this time getting an undisclosed amount of cash.

The two banks are about eight miles apart.

Police initially said the descriptions of the robber were similar and they were investigating whether the robberies were the work of the same man.

The assailant in the attempted bank robbery in Plainview was described as about 25 years old and 6-feet tall, wearing a green sweater, jeans, sunglasses and a white Nike logo baseball hat.

The robber in the TD Bank heist was described as 6-feet tall and wearing a dark, long-sleeved shirt, jeans, white sneakers, dark sunglasses -- and a white Nike hat.

Police said Nassau and Suffolk police compared photos Wednesday and realized the two incidents involved the same man.

Detectives are hoping someone will recognize him.

Police in Nassau are asking anyone with information regarding the Plainview incident to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-244-TIPS. Police in Suffolk are asking anyone with information regarding the South Huntington incident to call 800-220-TIPS. All calls will remain confidential, police said.