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Police Hunt Pair of Suspects in 14-Stop Robbery Spree

By Patrick Hedlund | December 7, 2011 11:48am

MANHATTAN — Police are searching for a pair of men suspected of robbing more than a dozen Manhattan stores during a six-week crime spree that targeted bodegas, dry cleaners and chain stores including Subway, Payless and a Duane Reade.

The suspects, who allegedly vaulted over countertops and cleaned out cash registers, are wanted in connection with at least 14 incidents stretching from the Financial District to Midtown, the NYPD said.

Police said the string of robberies began shortly before 9 p.m. Oct. 24, when one of the knife-wielding suspects robbed a dry cleaner at West 26th Street. On Oct. 28, both suspects allegedly jumped the the counter of a Subway eatery on Seventh Avenue about 2:15 a.m. and stole money from the register.

Police are searching for two suspects wanted in connection with more than a dozen robberies from the Financial District to Midtown.
Police are searching for two suspects wanted in connection with more than a dozen robberies from the Financial District to Midtown.
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NYPD

One of the suspects struck twice on Nov. 2, claiming to have gun before stealing the tip jar at Soul Fixin’s restaurant on West 28th Street shortly before 9 p.m., police said.

Less than an hour later, the same suspect robbed a Blimpie restaurant on West 23rd Street by grabbing money from the register after fighting with and an employee, police said.

The same suspect struck another Subway on Second Avenue in the East Village on Nov. 9 about 2:25 a.m., flashing a knife before demanding money, according to the NYPD.

On Nov. 14, both suspects hopped a counter at a bodega on West 14th Street and Eighth Ave. at approximately 9:40 p.m., punching the victim before taking money from the register, police said. About an hour later, one of the two suspects jumped over a counter of 1st News at West 10th and Bleecker Street armed with a sharp object and demanded money from an employee, according to cops.

The pair also made off with cash from a restaurant on First Avenue in the East Village at about 8:40 p.m on Nov. 21., police said. Two days later, one of the suspects jumped a counter at a Duane Reade on Sixth Avenue in Chelsea about 9:20 p.m., removing money from the register, police added.

Both men went behind the counter to remove money from the registers at Lite Choice on Seventh Avenue in Chelsea on Nov. 26 about 6 p.m., at Health King on Nassau Street in the Financial District on Nov. 28 about 9:30 p.m., and at Pret A Manger on Broadway near Union Square on Nov. 30 about 9:40 p.m., the NYPD said. In the Nov. 30 incident, the suspect assaulted the cashier before robbing money.

The alleged thieves struck most recently on Mon., Dec. 5, with one of the men going behind the counter of a Payless Shoes on West 14th Street about 6:50 p.m., shoving and employee and stealing money from the register, police said. Less than half hour later, the two suspects took money from a cash register at a newsstand on West 33rd Street, police added.

The first suspect, who police said was involved in all the incidents, is described as a male between 25 and 30 years old, standing 5-foot-8 with black hair and short braids.

The second suspect, who police noted was involved in seven of the incident, is described as between 25 and 30 years old, standing about 6 feet with short black hair.

Anyone with information in regard to any of the robberies is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS. The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Website at ww.nypdcrimestoppers.com or texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES), then enter TIP577.