Friday Crime Blotter: Strong-Arm Robberies in Sheepshead Bay, A Nearly Stolen Coat in Bensonhurst & More

BENSONHURST – Police are looking for the man who violently attempted to rob a 16-year old for his coat at gunpoint last Tuesday in Bensonhurst.

The 16-year old male victim was walking on 61st Street between 18th and 19th Avenues when the suspect approached him from behind, around 7:00 am on January 9, said police. The suspect pulled a handgun and demanded the boy’s coat, but when he refused, a struggle followed. The incident can be seen on surveillance video below:

During the struggle, the thief struck the victim with the gun multiple times, giving him lacerations to his head and face, said police. Eventually, the would-be robber fled east on 61st, empty-handed.

Police described the suspect as a black man, about 5’10”, last seen wearing a beige jacket, a gray hoodie and gray sweatpants, with red boots or sneakers. A picture has been provided below:

EAST NEW YORK – A man is wanted for the knife-point robbery of a store on New Lots Ave in East New York earlier this week, said police.

Around 2:40 pm on Monday, January 8, the individual entered the store at 621 New Lots Ave, at Shenck Avenue, pulling out a knife and threatening the 44-year old man behind the counter, said police. The thief then stole miscellaneous items from the store and fled in an unknown direction.

Police described the suspect as a black man, 5’10” and 160 lbs, last seen wearing a black jacket with multiple patches, dark jeans and a bookbag. Surveillance video from the incident can be seen below:

PARK SLOPE – A violent attack in the 7th Avenue Subway station last weekend sent an 18-year old to the hospital during an attempted robbery.

At 6:30 pm on Saturday, January 6, the 18-year old male victim was standing on the mezzanine of the 7th Avenue F train station when he was attacked out of nowhere by an unknown assailant, said police. The attacker also tried to steal the victim’s cell phone during the brief struggle, but a bystander intervened, and the suspect fled without the phone.

The victim was taken to Methodist Hospital with an eye injury. Police described the attacker as a black male teenager, 15-18 years-old, ‘5″10″, 150-160 lbs with flat top haircut. He was last seen wearing a blue coat, green pants and brown boots, with a black knapsack. A surveillance photo can be seen below:

SHEEPSHEAD BAY – Police are looking for two men who perpetrated a pair of armed robberies in the early hours of Saturday, January 6 in Southern Brooklyn.

First, they entered the Super Laundromat at 2482 Coney Island Avenue, at Avenue V, just after 5:00 am, brandishing a firearm, said police. They struck the lone employee in the head with the gun, giving him a laceration, then tied him up while they stole $200 from the register and fled, said the police.

Then, around 5:45 am, the two struck again, this time at Aldo Deli and Bagel, at 906 Kings Highway, near East 9th Street. The robbers forced two employees to the rear of the store, where one stood guard while the other stole $1500 from the registers, said police.

Video from the second incident can be seen below:

BROWNSVILLE – Police are looking for the individual who brandished a firearm at a clerk while trying to pass off counterfeit money at a deli on Rockaway Avenue.

At 7:15 am on Sunday, December 31, 2017, the suspect entered the Brownsville Deli at 694 Rockaway Avenue, attempting to buy a variety of items with a counterfeit $50 bill, said police. The deli clerk refused, pointing out the bill was counterfeit.

In response, the man drew a handgun, reportedly telling the clerk, “Try and do something and I’ll blow your head off!” At that point, the man stole a bag of Cheetos from the counter and fled the scene on foot, heading north up Rockaway Avenue.

There were no injuries as a result of the incident. Police described the suspect as a black man in his mid-20s, 6′ tall and 180 lbs, with brown eyes and a beard. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, black pants, black sneakers and a black hooded sweatshirt. Security footage of the suspect can be seen below:

Anyone with information in regard 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 at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.