NEW YORK — Police say one person has been linked to nearly a dozen strong-arm robberies committed in Manhattan over the past two weeks, targeting everyone from businesses to pedestrians on the street.
Police say the man is responsible for nine robberies or attempted robberies in the city between May 19 and 28. Most robberies took place at night or early in the morning.
Surveillance photos show the suspect is wanted in several major theft incidents
NYPD Crime Stoppers
The string of grand theft incidents began at 2:30 a.m. on May 19 when police said the suspect, who was riding a Citi Bike, drove up to a 25-year-old pedestrian near East 24th Street and Second Avenue and stated that he had a firearm and demanded the credit card of the man. According to police, the suspect followed the pedestrian for a few blocks but ultimately drove away empty-handed.
Later that morning, around 10:15 a.m., police said the suspect walked into a deli at Second Avenue and East 38th Street, brandished a gun, stole $200 from the register and then rode away on a Citi Bike.
Around 2:30 a.m. on May 21, police say the suspect approached a 52-year-old man near Broadway and West 86th Street, simulated a firearm and demanded money, but he again fled empty-handed and rode away on a Citi Bike.
Police say the same person walked into a 24-hour Dunkin’ on Lexington Avenue on the Upper East Side around 2 a.m. on May 23, simulated a firearm, threatened to shoot and stole $250 from the register.
Suspect tries to commit three robberies in New York in 90 minutes
Police say the suspect, again on a Citi Bike, approached a 17-year-old boy near Avenue A and East Third Street just after 7 a.m. Sunday morning and demanded money. According to police, the suspect drove away but then returned, again demanded money and threatened to shoot the victim. The victim handed over €35 and the suspect drove away.
About half an hour later, an employee of Diamond News on Second Avenue in Murray Hill was held at gunpoint shortly after opening the store.
“I have a gun. Only money,” said Amjad Ali, owner of Diamond News.
The victim handed over all available cash ($200) and the suspect took to the streets.
Then, around 8 a.m., police say the suspect approached a 28-year-old pedestrian walking on Lexington Avenue, demanded money and threatened to shoot the victim. The victim did not give the suspect any money or property and the suspect drove away on a Citi Bike.
Robber targets businesses throughout New York
NYPD Crime Stoppers
Police say around 3:45 a.m. Tuesday, the suspect rode a Citi Bike to the window of a grocery store on Third Avenue between East 106th and 107th streets, showed the outline of a firearm and demanded money. He got away with $300.
In the most recent incident, which happened just before 6 a.m. Wednesday, police said the suspect entered a business on Second Avenue between East 57th and 58th streets, went to the register and demanded money. According to police, he said he had a gun and tried to open the register, but when he couldn’t, he ran away.
No one was injured in any of the nine incidents.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477)or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All conversations are treated confidentially.
