Queens, NY – Police are searching for a gunman accused of robbing two cellphone stores in Queens just days apart, making off with thousands of dollars in cash and merchandise.
The first robbery happened Sunday afternoon at 113-02 Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica, according to the NYPD. Investigators said a man entered the store around 12:52 p.m. asking about a cellphone before pulling a gun from his waistband. He ordered the 29-year-old employee to empty the cash register, then grabbed multiple phones. The thief fled with about $1,000 and electronics. No injuries were reported.
Three days later, on Wednesday around 6 p.m., the same suspect struck again inside a Liberty Avenue store in Ozone Park, police said. The man asked to see security footage and followed a 39-year-old employee into the back of the shop before brandishing a firearm. He swiped phones valued at $6,500 and fled on foot. Again, no one was hurt.
The suspect is described as a man with a dark complexion, about 25 years old. During the first robbery, he was seen wearing a dark knit hat, sunglasses, a navy blue jacket, a black sweatshirt, and blue jeans.
The NYPD released surveillance images of the suspect and is urging anyone with information to call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.
Key Points
- Police say the same suspect robbed two Queens cellphone stores at gunpoint within four days.
- The gunman stole about $1,000 and several phones in Jamaica, then $6,500 worth of phones in Ozone Park.
- Investigators released surveillance images and are asking the public for help identifying the suspect.
Queens detectives are racing to catch the armed thief before he strikes again.