Suspect Arrested in Village Bank Heist

Suffolk Police have arrested a man in connection with the robbery at Capital One Bank, on Little East Neck Road, on March 11.

Max Schneider, 21, of Dix Hills, is charged with six other bank robberies as well, including the robbery of Bank of America, 560 Montauk Highway, in West Babylon, on March 18 and a heist on February 23 at the TD Bank, located at 485 Montauk Highway in West Islip.

It is the latest in a series of arrests tied to over a dozen bank robberies in Suffolk County since the start of the year. A year ago there were six bank robberies in the first three months.

Police have also arrested and charged Vito Frabizio, 21, of Deer Park, for the West Islip robbery on February 23, 2011.

The arrests were the result of a cooperative effort by the Suffolk County Major Case Investigations Unit, the Second Precinct Neighborhood Enforcement/Special Operations Team (NE/SOT) and the newly formed Detective Special Operations Team, according to a police press statement.

Police said the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police and the New York City Police Department assisted in the apprehension of Schneider.

Schneider is also charged with robbing the following banks:

TD Bank, 1361 Deer Park Ave., North Babylon, on February 17, 2011.
TD Bank, 6190 Jericho Turnpike, Commack, on March 2, 2011.
Bank of America, 1979 Deer Park Ave., Deer Park, on March 4, 2011.
TD Bank, 2822 Middle County Road, Lake Grove, on March 24, 2011.

Schneider and Frabizio are scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip today.

The Major Case Investigations Unit is continuing the investigation and additional charges are anticipated.  Detectives are asking anyone with any information to call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will remain confidential.