The FBI says it has caught the so-called "Holiday Bandit" bank robber, who is believed to have carried out at least nine bank robberies in the tri-state area since his spree began during last year's holiday season.
Mirat Mikhaylich was arrested in Queens early Tuesday after eluding authorities for months. In one robbery, the 6-foot-5, 210-pound thief even managed to vanish as cops arrived and helicopters searched from above.
Investigators were tipped off to his location after a 2007 Gold Toyota Camry, believed to be stolen by the suspect a day earlier, was found on 91st Avenue in Queens.
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Janice K. Fedarcyk said the arrest "should serve as a stark reminder to anyone who wishes to brandish a weapon, rob a bank and put the lives of innocent civilians at risk: we will find you and bring you to justice."
Investigators said Mikhaylich was arrested a day after robbing another bank in Edison, N.J. on Monday.
NYPD technology helped crack the case. A detective in the NYPD Real Time Crime Center, performing an exhaustive search of license plate reader technology available there, discovered that the car Mikhaylich stole in NJ had traveled to Queens Monday evening, investigators said.
That information helped the NYPD and FBI track the vehicle and arrest Mikhaylich without incident, officials said.
The suspect always made the same moves — he handed bank tellers a note at gunpoint and demanded cash, authorities said. And then he fled on foot.
Mikhaylich is expected to be arraigned in federal court on the bank robbery charges later Tuesday.
He is suspected of robbing nine banks in New York City and New Jersey, including two banks in one February week. Most of the robberies occurred between December and late February.
Authorities said he made off with at least $50,000.