Police Searching For Suspect In Series Of Brighton Beach Robberies

Police are searching for a suspect in a series of five robberies that have taken place from July 23 through to August 16 all in the Brighton Beach area, according to police.

The first incident occurred at 1901 Emmons Ave, Masal Cafe, at around 4am on Saturday July 23, according to police. The suspect, who police describe as a white male between the ages of 40 and 45, came in through the rear door, and took approximately $400 in cash, 15 credit cards, a safe, a hand truck, two check books, and the cash register, according to police.

Then, on Wednesday July 27 between 9pm and 6:30am, the suspect broke into Berikoni bakery at 125 Brighton Beach Ave through the side door. He took about $200 from the cash register, according to police.

Less than a week later, the Güllüoglu Baklava Cafe at 231 Brighton Beach Ave on Monday August 1 was broken into at around midnight. The suspect came in through a window, and took about $300 from the cash register, according to the police.

The suspect waited a bit longer to make his next move. On Saturday August 13 between 9:30pm and 9:45am the next day, a smoke and wine shop at 373 Neptune Ave was broken into by who the police believe to be the same suspect as the other robberies. According to police, the suspect came in through the basement door and took approximately $1,000 in cash — possibly his biggest score in these burglaries.

He didn’t stop there, according to police. On Tuesday August 16 between 1:20am and noon, the suspect broke into the Tatiana Cafe at 3152 Brighton 6 Street through the basement and took an unknown amount of cash, according to police.

Surveillance video shows the suspect combing for money in one of the burglaries. Tattoos can be seen on each of his forearms.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident 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.