The Empire Strikes Bank

Thief found his lack of cash disturbing

Maybe Luke Skywalker didn't know the power of the Dark Side of the Force, but one Long Island bank now has an idea.

A man wearing a Darth Vader mask and a cape robbed a Chase Bank in Setauket at 11:30 a.m. Thursday . 

He threatened the teller with a gun -- not a lightsaber -- and after the teller gave him money from the drawer, the alleged Dark Lord of the Sith fled eastward through the bank's parking lot, police said.

Suffolk County Police Major Case detectives are now investigating. They ask that anyone with information call 1-800-220-TIPS. 

And rest assured, New York: the perpetrator isn't really the Dark Lord. How can we be sure?  For one thing, the thief's cape was blue, not black, and he was wearing camouflage pants.  

And police report that the thief is between 6' and 6'2" -- while the real Darth Vader stood 6'7 in his suit, according to "Wookiepedia."

But then again, who knows? Maybe the Empire's strapped for cash. It did lose two Death Stars in the space of about five years -- and the second one wasn't even finished.

The robbery comes about a week after another bank robbed, dubbed the "bouquet bandit," held up a Manhattan bank.

Authorities say Edward Pemberton used a flower bouquet to conceal a note demanding cash during a $440 bank heist July 15. They say he used a potted plant as a similar propr in a holdup at another bank earlier this month.

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