An unarmed Bronx bank robber who police say was captured earlier this month shortly after a heist on East Fordham Road in Fordham Manor, when a dye pack hidden in some stolen cash exploded and splashed distinctive red ink on the robber’s body and clothes, has now been charged in four similar crimes.

 

As reported, officers from the 52nd Precinct were called to the Capital One Bank, located at 151 East Fordham Road and East 190th Street at 1:15 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14, for a report of a bank robbery. According to police radio transmission at the time of the incident, the suspect discarded a black, hooded jacket and was wearing a white T-shirt as he reportedly fled into the Fordham Road subway station on Jerome Avenue, serving the number 4 train.

 

A representative at the bank was heard telling officers at the subway, “He’s going to be wearing black pants, black shoes, possibly a white T-shirt, and possibly a black baseball cap.” Moments later the person added, “He’s going to have red dye pack marks on his hands and face.”

 

On Monday, Oct. 24, the NYPD reported they had arrested and charged Kashiffe Beckford, 29, of Ellis Avenue in the Unionport section of The Bronx who, at the time, was charged with a single count of robbery. An NYPD spokesperson said of the incident at the time, “The suspect entered the bank and passed a note to the bank teller, demanding money.”

 

The spokesperson continued, “The teller handed the individual cash. As he fled the location, a dye pack exploded staining the suspect’s clothing. The suspect was apprehended a short time later.”

 

When the NYPD spokesperson was asked by Norwood News if Beckford was connected to a string of four other previous bank robberies across The Bronx, he replied, “This is not related to the individual wanted in that [pattern of bank robberies].”

 

The referenced initial robbery pattern was first announced by the NYPD on Sept. 8. Police said the first robbery took place at 1:44 p.m. on Monday, July 11, at the Chase Bank located at 1536 Westchester Avenue in the Parkchester section of the borough. The suspect fled the bank on foot with $500.

 

The second theft was reported at 11:45 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 15, at the Capital One Bank located at 557 Melrose Avenue at East 149th Street in the South Bronx. Police say the suspect passed a note to the teller, the teller complied, and the suspect fled on foot with $3,250 in cash.

 

A third heist was reported at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8, at a Capital One Bank, located at 2159 White Plains Road in the Pelham Parkway section of the borough. Once again, police stated that the suspect passed the teller a note [demanding money], and on receipt of same, fled on foot with $3,185.

 

A fourth robbery was reported at 10:58 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 26, at a Chase Bank located at 360 E. 149th Street, also in the South Bronx. The individual, once again, passed a note to a teller, demanding money, and upon receipt of same, fled the location with $500. No physical injuries were reported following these incidents.

 

In the September 8th announcement, the NYPD described the suspect as a man aged between 25 and 30 years of age with a dark complexion. Police added that the individual was between 5 feet, 7 inches and 5 feet, 8 inches in height, had a thin build, and was last seen wearing a black, hooded sweatshirt, a black hat, and a black facemask.

 

On Tuesday, Oct. 26, the Bronx District Attorney confirmed that Beckford had indeed been charged with all five bank robberies, and currently faces 11 felonies and 10 misdemeanor charges. Patrice O’Shaughnessy of the Bronx DA’s office later said Beckford was arraigned on Thursday, Oct. 20 and had since been released, telling Norwood News, “Crimes charged not bail eligible.”

 

Norwood News asked if the reason the crimes were not bail eligible was because the bank robberies in question were non-violent. We were informed that the incidents in question were considered non-violent felonies as no weapon was used and there was no assault.

 

We asked the U.S. District Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York if federal charges are potentially applicable in the event any of the banks are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), an independent agency created by Congress to maintain stability and public confidence in the nation’s financial system. We will update this story upon receipt of any feedback.

 

On Oct. 26, the NYPD confirmed that the Capital One Bank robbed on Aug. 15 was hit again on Tuesday, Oct. 25. Officials say the latest incident was reported at 3:20 p.m. at 557 Melrose Avenue in the South Bronx. The “unidentified” male passed a note to the teller, demanding money, and fled on foot with over $2,000. Police reported no immediate arrests in this case and no description of the suspect was immediately available.

An attempt to contact Beckford at the family home was unsuccessful. According to the criminal complaint, Beckford allegedly told the first teller at the Chase Bank on July 11, “This is a robbery, give me all the money in the cash drawer.”

 

Beckford is due back in court on Nov. 29.

 

A person arrested and charged with a crime is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.