By Patrick Hedlund
DNAinfo News Editor
EAST VILLAGE — Police are searching for a group of thugs wanted for assaulting and robbing shopkeepers after a string of incidents in the East and West Villages, the NYPD said.
In each of the attacks, the men forced their way behind the counters of the stores before making off with money from the cash registers, police said.
The first incident occurred on Jan. 4 about 10 p.m., when a man walked into Pizza Place at 226. E. 14th St., ordered a slice, and then left before returning with two more men to rob the cash register, police said. They then fled eastbound on 14th Street, police noted.
The second incident on Jan. 7 saw two of the suspects enter Cigar Cohiba at 7 Greenwich Ave. about 11:30 p.m., where they asked to buy cigars before punching an employee and taking money from the register, as well as the victim's cell phone, police said.
The third incident occurred on Jan. 13 about 1:20 a.m. at the Green Apple grocery store at 197 First Ave., where one suspect went to buy a soda while the other punched an employee in the back of the head, police said. One of the suspects then lifted the entire cash register off the counter and put it into a garbage bag before fleeing with it on foot, police added.
The suspects are described as men in their 30s, standing 5 foot 8 inches to 5 foot 10 inches, weighing 160 to 170 pounds, and wearing black or brown hooded sweatshirts, police said.
Anyone with information regarding the incidents or suspects is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit 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.
