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RT01122017

6 JANUARY 12, 2017 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM Instagram pic helps nab a bank bandit BY ROBERT POZARYCKI RPOZARYCKI@QNS.COM/@ROBBPOZ The Chase is fi nally over. With the help of fi ngerprints and the suspect’s own Instagram account, federal agents arrested a 31-year-old man on Thursday whom they say robbed at least two Chase bank branches in Queens last year as part of a robbery pattern. Paul Lubin, 31, of Florida was picked up by the FBI on Jan. 5 in Rockville Centre, Long Island and faces two federal bank robbery charges for holding up the Chase bank at 111-18 Liberty Ave. in Ozone Park on Dec. 14 and another Chase bank at 54-12 48th St. in Maspeth on Dec. 27. Detectives were able to match Lubin to the heists through an investigation that included an examination of the suspect’s Instagram account. According to the criminal complaint provided by the Offi ce of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Lubin was seen in an Instagram photo wearing what appeared to be the same sweatshirt that the suspect in the Maspeth bank robbery was seen wearing in security camera images captured at the scene. Additional charges are pending against Lubin in connection with four other Chase bank robberies across Queens dating back to September of last year. Law enforcement sources said he is also suspected of robbing a bank in Tampa, FL, last November. In the Ozone Park and Maspeth robberies, federal agents said, Lubin allegedly passed demand notes to the teller demanding cash. The notes said virtually the same thing: the suspect allegedly claimed to be “heavily armed” and demanded that the teller “put $5,000 in one envelope.” Fingerprints picked up from the Ozone Park demand note matched Lubin’s fingerprints, authorities said. Lubin was provided with $1,000 in cash during the Ozone Park heist and $5,000 from the Maspeth location. Bandit makes an R-rated demand and steals thousands from a Glendale bank: cops BY ROBERT POZARYCKI RPOZARYCKI@QNS.COM @ROBBPOZ A bank robber didn’t mince words when she went to rob a Glendale bank on the aft ernoon of Jan. 4, authorities said. Law enforcement sources said the crook came calling to the Ridgewood Savings Bank located at 65-01 Myrtle Ave. at about 3:24 p.m. on Jan. 4. According to authorities, the thief — described as a Hispanic female standing 5 foot 7 inches tall and weighing about 140 pounds who was seen wearing a black knit hat, a black jacket and red fl annel pants — passed a note to a teller announcing a robbery and that the worker should “put the money in the bag … b—-!” No weapons were displayed during the robbery attempt, law enforcement sources determined. The teller complied with the request and handed over more than $6,000 to the suspect, police said. The bandit then fl ed the scene on foot westbound along Myrtle Avenue. Offi cers from the 104th Precinct responded to the scene. There were no injuries. Police canvassed the surrounding area for the suspect, but no immediate This Ridgewood Savings Bank on Myrtle Avenue in Glendale was robbed on Jan. 4. arrests were made, police said. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the robbery is urged to call Crime Stoppers Photo via Google Maps at 800-577-TIPS, visit their website or send a text message to 274637 (CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All calls and messages are kept confi dential. Dick’s Sporting Goods to open in Glendale at location of former Sports Authority BY ANGELA MATUA AMATUA@QNS.COM @ANGELAMATUA After Sporting Goods announced in May that it was shutting down all of its stores, including the Glendale location, another chain that sells sporting goods will take its place. Dick’s Sporting Goods will open a location at 73-25 Woodhaven Blvd. in spring 2017, a spokesperson for the chain said. He could not confi rm the exact opening date or how many people it will employee. There are currently no Dick’s Sporting Goods stores in Queens. The closest locations are in Valley Stream and Garden City, Long Island. The chain was founded by Dick Stack, an 18-year-old from Binghamton, NY. It was originally a bait and tackle shop, and he expanded it to include other sporting goods in 1958. The chain has stores in 47 states. Photo via Shutterstock Dick’s Sporting Goods will open its fi rst Queens location this spring.


RT01122017
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