The suspect, seen in both photos, carried out a string of armed robberies using a box-cutter, police said (Photos: NYPD)
April 20, 2021 By Michael Dorgan
Police are looking for a man wanted for carrying out a string of armed robberies inside bodegas throughout northwest Queens over the past month.
The suspect, who brandished a box cutter during each incident, demanded cash from the store clerks before fleeing each scene on foot with his ill-gotten gains, according to police.
The alleged thief hit stores in Elmhurst, East Elmhurst and Woodside – and made off with nearly $5,000 cash in total, police said.
The first robbery allegedly took place on April 7 at around 9:30 p.m., when the suspect stole $1,000 cash from NY China Market, located at 91-24 Corona Ave.
Three days later, at around 10 p.m., the perpetrator took off with $760 cash when he robbed New Woodside Grocery and Convenience, located at 41-70 74th St.
The pattern continued just after 9 p.m. on April 12 when the thief targeted Dosanjh Deli Grocery, located at 103-01 Astoria Blvd.
The suspect was seen on CCTV waving a boxcutter at a 25-year-old female clerk, before pushing her aside. He was able to grab $1,200 dollars cash from the register and took lockboxes from the store—although it is unclear what they contained.
Four days later, April 16, the suspect took $600 dollars from The Brothers Grocery Store, located at 68-10 Roosevelt Ave. – and slashed the store clerk in the process. The suspect cut the 45-year-old male victim’s hands during the robbery which took place at around 12:05 a.m.
The clerk was not seriously injured.
Then, just after midnight on April 19, the suspect carried out his most recent robbery inside Hampton Deli & Grocery, located at 40-12 Hampton St. in Elmhurst. The suspect stole $1,300 dollars before fleeing the location, according to police.
Police did not provide a description of the suspect, however, the CCTV footage shows him wearing a black-colored hoody, gray pants and black shoes.
Anyone with information in regard to the identity of this individual is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, or on Twitter @NYPDTips.
