Crime & Safety

Police: Bank Robber Caught

James Johnson, 44, is arrested Wednesday.

A Coram man has been arrested and charged with robbing two banks and attempting to rob four others over the past seven months, police said. 

James Johnson, 44, was arrested in Medford on Wednesday afternoon. 

Police said officers Greg Marino and Matthew Lundin of the Sixth Precinct Crime Section were on patrol shortly after noon when they observed a 1997 Plymouth driving recklessly south on Mill Road in Medford. 

The officers pulled the driver over on Mill Road and Granny Road and conducted a computer check which revealed that the vehicle was stolen, police said.

After arresting the driver, Johnson, the officers noticed that Johnson fit the description of a suspect who was wanted for a number of attempted robberies in Suffolk, police said.  

Police said further investigations by Pattern Crime Unit detectives revealed that Johnson was responsible for the following:

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  • Robbing a Capital One Bank in Center Moriches on Aug. 9, 2013
  • Robbing a Chase Bank in Bohemia on Jan. 25, 2014
  • Attempting to rob a Bank of America in Medford on Feb. 5, 2014
  • Attempting to rob a Chase bank in Medford on Feb. 5, 2014
  • Attempting to rob a Chase bank in Farmingville on Feb. 11, 2014
  • Attempting to rob a Capital One bank in Brentwood Feb. 12, 2014

During the first two robberies, Johnson passed a note to a teller demanding money and fled once the teller complied, police said. 

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In the last four instances, Johnson passed a note demanding money but left the bank without proceeds when the teller did not immediately comply with his demands, police said. 

Johnson was charged with Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle 2nd Degree, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 2nd Degree, Reckless Driving, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd Degree, two counts of Robbery 3rd Degree and four counts of attempted Robbery 3rd Degree.

Johnson is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Thursday. 

Anyone with information about the robberies is asked to call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will remain confidential.


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