“Burberry Bandit” Arrested on Upper West Side; Family Points to Mental-Health Struggles
Cornell Neilly — the man tabloids nicknamed the “Burberry Bandit” — was arrested Sept. 15 outside an Upper West Side apartment where relatives say he has been living, according to family members who spoke to The Post.
The 35-year-old, who has been charged with allegedly robbing five banks between Aug. 16 and Sept. 13, was taken into custody while on parole. Neilly has faced numerous prior bank-robbery arrests; prosecutors say his record includes dozens of prior incidents. Family members told The Post that his longtime taste for designer clothing earned him the Burberry nickname after surveillance footage from a 2012 Midtown robbery showed him wearing Burberry tartan.
Relatives at the West 65th Street residence described a quiet arrest. Two unmarked cars arrived and officers approached; the relatives said Neilly briefly tried to move away but ultimately complied and surrendered with his hands up. Both women who were with him at the time asked to remain anonymous.
Neilly’s family described mental-health struggles as a possible factor in his behavior. An adoptive grandmother who lives in the apartment said she believes he is bipolar and off his medication, and urged that he needs treatment. There are no public records available showing whether Neilly has received services from city mental-health providers, the family said.
After the arrest, Judge Jeffrey Gershuny declined prosecutors’ request for $50,000 cash bail or $150,000 bond and released Neilly despite his parole status, the relatives told reporters. They said Neilly returned to the apartment after being released. The grandmother described a tense family moment and urged him to stay out of trouble.
Neilly’s case remains pending in court; the charges against him are allegations and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.