Police are searching for the suspects in a string of burglaries. (NYPD)
July 2, 2019 By Laura Hanrahan
Police are investigating a string of knife-point robberies in the Maspeth and Ridgewood areas after four local businesses were each targeted by a different knife-wielding robber.
The robberies were all carried out in a similar manner, although police have not yet confirmed whether the four men worked together to plan each crime.
The incidents began late last month with the robbery of a Maspeth Metro PCS located at 58-03 Metropolitan Ave. The perpetrator, while holding a knife, stole $200 from the store. The suspect is described as white, six feet tall, and weighing 180 pounds. Surveillance footage shows him wearing a black durag and sunglasses.
On Thursday June 27, five days after the Metro PCS robbery, another unidentified suspect entered into Beach Bum Tanning, located at 62-06 Fresh Pond Rd. brandishing a knife. He demanded cash from the register and the cashier complied, handing over $300. The man then fled the scene in an unknown direction.
The suspect is described as white, approximately 45-year-old, 6 feet in height and weighing 170 pounds. He was last seen wearing a dark colored sweatshirt, dark short, grey sneakers and a white hat.
The following day, around 12:41 p.m., another knife-wielding robber entered into a Metro PCS located at 71-05 Grand Ave. and demanded to be given cash. The store employee gave the man approximately $300 and the robber fled the store heading eastbound on Grand Avenue.
The suspect in this incident is described as white, approximately 20-years-old, and 5 feet 8 inches in height. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, blue jeans, grey sneakers, a Yankees hat and sunglasses.
Later that same day, around 8:25 p.m., a man holding a kitchen knife walked into O & A Hair Salon, located at 69-06 Fresh Pond Rd., and told a store employee to hand over the cash. The employee complied and gave the suspect an undetermined amount of money. The man then fled the salon and got into a blue Hyundai with New Jersey plates.
The robber is described as Hispanic, in his 40s, five feet in height, and weighing 190 pounds. He was last seen wearing a light blue shirt, dark colored shorts and grey sneakers.
No injuries were reported as a result of any of the robberies.
Anyone with information in regards to the identity of the suspect is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com
