Smoke Shop Robberies - Crooks Used Hammer, Knives

Police
are searching for this man in conenction with a series of robberies of smoke shops. -Photo by NYPD

By Dan Gesslein 

NYC News Network 

October 13, 2023 

NEW YORK - Police are searching for a pair of smoke shop bandits who robbed at least four weed stores throughout Manhattan and Queens dating back to July. Cops said the crooks hit the same Manhattan smoke shop twice.

At around 2:13 pm on July 24, two men walked into a smoke shop on 1st Avenue. One of the men pulled out a hammer and threatened the 20-year-old store employee. He forced the worker behind the counter and started removing cash and merchandise. The accomplice put the stolen cash and items into a bag and the two fled on a moped. 

Cops said the money and merchandise is valued at $3,850. 

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The crooks were quiet throughout August but then struck with a vengeance in September racking up three more robberies within a two-week period. 

At around 4:30 pm on September 8, one of the suspects entered a smoke shop on Fresh Pond Road in Ridgewood, Queens. Cops said the robber pulled out a knife and threatened a 32-year-old worker. The knife-wielding crook went behind the counter and removed $500 in cash from the register. 

No injuries were reported. 

At around 4:30 pm on September 20, the suspect entered the same smoke shop on 1st Avenue that they robbed in July. The robber pulled a knife on the 22-year-old employee. Cops said he removed $2,000 in cash from the register and various merchandise. He fled on a motorized scooter. 

The final robbery occurred at around 5:30 pm on September 22 in Queens. Cops said the two men entered the smoke shop on 71st Avenue. One of the men pulled out a knife and threatened the 25-year-old employee. Cops said the crooks removed $400 in cash from the register and took $600 in merchandise. 

The robbers fled the scene on a motorized scooter. 

Cops said one of the suspects is described as a male with a light complexion. He is between the ages of 25 and 35 and is 5 foot 7. He was last seen wearing a white Du-rag, a green camouflage shirt and gray pants.

Anyone with information in regard 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 CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or on Twitter @NYPDTips. 

All calls are strictly confidential.