NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Police released photos Wednesday of a man who is wanted in connection with multiple smoke shop robberies in the Bronx and Manhattan, including one in which a worker was attacked with a wrench.
On the morning of Sept. 24 in the Melrose neighborhood of the Bronx, an unknown man went into a smoke shop at 3007 Third Ave., near East 155th Street, the NYPD said.
Officials said that the man gestured to having a gun and demanded money from the 30-year-old male worker, who hid in the bathroom.
The suspect then forcibly stole $200 from the store before fleeing in an unknown direction, according to police.
Months later, at 1:37 a.m. on Nov. 13, a suspect entered a smoke shop at 974 Amsterdam Ave., near West 108th Street on the Upper West Side, and as in the first robbery, pretended to have a gun and demanded money.
Police said that the robber took out a wrench and smashed the 26-year-old male employee's right hand.
The robber took $500 from the register before fleeing northbound on Amsterdam Avenue in a silver vehicle.
Police are searching for a man who committed multiple robberies in smoke shops across NYC, fleeing the second incident in a silver vehicle.NYPD
According to police, the victim was treated by medical personnel on the scene.
Days later, on Nov. 18 at 1:05 p.m., a robber went into a smoke shop at 3645 Bruckner Blvd. in the Pelham Bay neighborhood of the Bronx and threatened to shoot the 20-year-old male worker, authorities reported.
The suspect made off with $200 from the register and ran off southbound on Bruckner Blvd.
There were no injuries reported in the first or third incident.
The wanted man is depicted in photos released by the NYPD.
There have been no arrests, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
