A quiet note across a counter was all it took for a midday robbery at a Washington Heights bank on Thursday, when an unidentified person walked into the Citi branch at 4249 Broadway around 12:40 p.m., handed a teller a written demand, and walked out with roughly $500 in cash. The suspect took off on foot and, as of the latest update, had not been caught. Police have put out an alert asking New Yorkers to help put a name to the face.
According to a bulletin posted by NYPD Crime Stoppers, the teller complied with the demand note and the individual made off with about $500 before fleeing the scene. The post lists the anonymous tip lines: 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) and, for Spanish speakers, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. The alert was published April 24 as part of the NYPD’s regular public tip bulletins.
Where It Happened
Business listings identify the address as Citibank's Washington Heights branch at 4249 Broadway, along the neighborhood's Broadway commercial corridor in ZIP code 10033. The location is detailed in a US Bank Locations branch listing.
How To Help
The NYPD’s post on NYPD Crime Stoppers repeats the main hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) and the Spanish-language line at 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for anonymous tips. The department also directs the public to its online tip portal for anyone who prefers to submit information digitally. Investigators say that any surveillance video or photos from around the bank around the time of the robbery could help move the case forward.
Context
The approach used here entering a bank and sliding a written demand note to the teller is not new to New York investigators. In March, police said a suspect allegedly tried to hit six banks in five days across the city using the same basic move, according to NBC New York. That earlier string of daytime note-based robberies also triggered a citywide call for tips and surveillance footage.
Legal Note
Under New York state law, robbery is a felony offense. New York Penal Law Article 160 lays out the different degrees of robbery and the potential penalties, which vary based on factors like use of force, injuries, or the presence of a weapon. The statutory language is available through the New York State Senate.
As of the NYPD’s posting, no arrests had been made and the investigation was still active. Anyone who may have encountered the individual or captured relevant video in the area around the time of the incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers immediately.
