New York Daily News

‘Santa,’ 2nd fishy susp in heist nab

- BY ANDREW KESHNER

A CROOKED Kris Kringle and a thief in a yellow fisherman’s jacket have been bagged by the feds in a Queens robbery spree.

Authoritie­s say the two men are responsibl­e for a string of heists, including one in January, where the crook sported a Santa hat and beard, and another in February where the perpetrato­r wore a full-length yellow slicker.

The duo allegedly behind the costumed capers, Robert Bliss, 48, and Jimmy Fanfan, 46, were arraigned in Brooklyn Federal Court, and remanded earlier this month on robbery charges.

Both had been out on parole, Bliss for a narcotics rap and Fanfan for burglary.

According to arrest papers unsealed Monday, law enforcemen­t agents were investigat­ing a string of business robberies between January and April.

Eight of the suspected robberies involved a gray getaway car, which had stolen license plates in at least four of the cases, court papers said.

The “Santa” stickup happened Jan. 4, when he robbed a Flushing BP gas station. An accomplice, “wearing a face covering,” swiped cigarettes and $900 from the cash register, court papers said.

The February fisherman jacket job looted another gas station of $1,500, car keys and other merchandis­e.

Prosecutor­s didn’t say which of the pair was “Santa” or “the fisherman.”

Neither suspects’ attorney could be reached for comment.

Bliss and Fanfan could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

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