FBI seeks two Northeast Philadelphia bank bandits

THE FBI is asking the public to help investigators identify two bandits who are responsible for separate bank robberies in the city.

One of the crooks tried to rob a Bank of America on Welsh Road near Blue Grass in Northeast Philadelphia yesterday morning - a day after his photo was featured in the People Paper's "Catch Me If You Can" item.

(Clearly, he's not a devoted reader.)

The robber, who was clad in jeans, white sneakers, a gray baseball cap and a navy Nike hooded sweatshirt, passed a demand note to a Bank of America teller, but then took off without grabbing any loot.

The FBI said the same man robbed a Bridesburg Citizens Bank on May 18. He's described as white, about 5 feet 8 inches, with a blond mustache and goatee, and tattoos on both sides of his neck.

Federal agents are also trying to identify and arrest the armed crook who held up a Wells Fargo on Castor Avenue near Magee Avenue in Oxford Circle on Thursday.

The thief, who wore a gray hooded sweatshirt, gloves and covered his face with a ski mask or cloth, threatened a clerk with a silver handgun and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The FBI said he's a Hispanic or light-complected black man in his 20s who's about 5-8 with a medium build.

Tipsters can contact the FBI at 215-418-4000, or call 9-1-1.