Weekend Crime Blotter: Supermarket Arson, Gunpoint Robbery, Knife-Wielding Subway Thieves and More

MIDWOOD – An attempted robbery occurred at the Pay-O-Matic at 1813 Kings Highway on Thursday, November 30, said police. A man entered the location around 3:00 am and simulated having a gun, demanding money and lotto tickets from the 29-year old female teller.

The man was unsuccessful, however, leaving the location without any property, said police. A photo of the individual can be seen below:

The man who attempted to rob the Kings Highway Pay-O-Matic on 11/30 (Photo via DCPI)

EAST NEW YORK – Police are looking for a group of four men and one woman who robbed a 30-year old mother and her 8-year old daughter at gunpoint last week.

The victim was walking near 1 Wells Street around 5:00 pm on Thursday, November 30 when the group approached her from behind, police said. One of the men grabbed her and another showed her a gun, demanding, “Give me your money and phone!” The victim complied, handing over two cell phones and a wallet with credit cards.

The group fled on foot and left the victim uninjured, said police. A surveillance photo shows the unidentified individuals wanted in connection with the robbery.

A group wanted in connection with a gunpoint robbery in East New York (Photo via DCPI)

BRIGHTON BEACH – Two men are wanted for arson after attempting to burn down the Tashkent Supermarket in Brighton Beach last week, said police.

On Wednesday, November 29, an individual wearing a black mask entered the supermarket at 713 Brighton Beach Avenue around 2:30 am, while another waited on a motorcycle outside, said police. Caught on surveillance video, the inside man ignited one of the two Molotov cocktails he was carrying, throwing both containers of flammable liquid farther into the store.

As both suspects fled the scene on a motorcycle, store employees were able to extinguish the fire without incident and reported no injuries, said police.

Video of the incident can be seen below:

BENSONHURST – Police are looking for two men who robbed another man at knifepoint on the mezzanine of the New Utrecht/62nd Street station earlier this month.

Around 10:00 pm on Thursday, November 9, the two suspects followed their 33-year old victim off the platform when one of two grabbed the man, and the other showed him a knife, demanding his money, said police. The man with the knife took the victim’s cellphone and wallet, which contained $600 cash, a credit card and a Guatemalan ID.

The two men fled to parts unknown, leaving the victim unharmed, said police. Photos of the suspects taken from surveillance video can be seen below:

(Photo via DCPI)
(Photo via DCPI)

Anyone with information in regards to any of 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.