Cigarette Thieves Targeting Drug Stores Across Brooklyn

The NYPD are searching for a pair of thieves with a serious nicotine habit.

The two men seen in the surveillance images above have been targeting drug stores throughout Brooklyn and making off with thousands of dollars in cigarettes taken from behind the counter of each store. In one incident, a store employee sustained a minor stab wound.

The police have provided a summary of ten incidents that occurred in the month of June around the borough.

Thursday, June 1, at  approximately 4:38am an individual entered a Rite Aid located at 8222 18th Avenue (Bensonhurst) and removed approximately $1,343 worth of cigarettes.

Wednesday, June 7, at approximately 4:08am an individual entered a Walgreen’s located at 9408 3rd Avenue (Bay Ridge) and removed approximately $800 worth of cigarettes.

Friday, June 9 at approximately 3:52am the individuals entered a Rite Aid located at 344 Avenue X (Gravesend) and removed approximately $133 worth of cigarettes.

Monday, June 12 at approximately 2:24am the individuals entered a Rite Aid located at 120 Court Street (Brooklyn Heights) and removed approximately $4,170 worth of cigarettes.

Monday, June 12 at approximately 2:50am the individuals entered a Rite Aid located at 462 5th Avenue (Park Slope) and removed approximately $1,462 worth of cigarettes.

Wednesday, June 14 at approximately 2:46am the individuals entered a Rite Aid located at 1720 King Highway (Sheepshead Bay) and removed approximately $400 worth of cigarettes.

Wednesday, June 14 at approximately 3:42am the individuals entered a Rite Aid  located at 6900 4th Avenue (Bay Ridge) and removed approximately $900 worth of cigarettes from behind the counter. A store employee attempted to stop the men. One of the suspects pulled a knife from his pocket and stabbed the employee, causing a small laceration to his arm. The store employee refused medical treatment.

Monday, June 19 at approximately 2:40am an individual entered a Rite Aid located at 3823 Nostrand Avenue (Sheepshead Bay) and removed approximately $280 worth of cigarettes.

Friday, June 23 at approximately 4:23am the individuals entered a Rite Aid located at 2532 82nd Street (Bensonhurst) and removed approximately $1,581 worth of cigarettes from behind the counter. The suspects fled the scene in a black Nissan Altima.

Saturday, June 24, 2017 at approximately 9:18pm the individuals entered a Rite Aid located at 8222 18th Avenue (Bensonhurst) and removed approximately $1,069 worth of cigarettes.

One suspect is described as a black male, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, 145 pounds, with a thin build.

The second suspect is described as a black male, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, 165 pounds, with a thin build.

It is unclear whether the incidents above are connected to two similar cases reported on June 15. In these thefts, two Rite Aid locations on Smith Street were targeted within minutes of each other.

Anyone with information in regards to these incidents 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 or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.