Smoke Shop Robbers Hit Stores Thru Out NYC

4 Smoke Shops Hit by Robbery Crew

The NYPD is searching for these men in connection with a series of robberies of smoke shops throughout NYC. -Photo by NYPD

By Dan Gesslein 

NYC News Network 

January 17, 2024

NEW YORK - The NYPD is searching for a robbery crew that has struck in at least four smoke shops in Manhattan and the Bronx.

The first robbery took place on December 26. At around noon, a 19-year-old employee was working at the Blue Cookie Smoke Shop on the Lower East Side. Cops said a group of males entered the store with hammers, mallets and a handgun. 

The crew forcibly removed a box of marijuana products before fleeing. No injuries were reported.

The crew struck again on January 11. At around 3:40 pm, the crew walked into a smoke shop on the Avenue of the Americas. One of the crew displayed a knife to the 26-year-old worker. They then forcibly removed a box of marijuana products valued at $1,500.

Cops said the same crew upped the violence during their next robbery. At around 12:30 pm on January 14, the crew walked into Moon Stage Smoke Shop on Lexington Avenue. 

Cops said members of the crew jumped over the counter and punched the 23-year-old worker. They forcibly removed the victim’s cell phone and then ran out of the store.

Hours later the crew struck a smoke shop in the Bronx. At around 7 pm, three members of the crew walked into a smoke shop on Gun Hill Road. 

Members of the crew hopped behind the counter and pushed the 53-year-old worker out of the way. The crooks proceeded to remove $2,000 in cash and $3,000 in store merchandise.

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.