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Armed Robber Held Up Plaza Hotel's Currency Exchange, Police Say

By Noah Hurowitz | October 5, 2015 3:23pm | Updated on October 6, 2015 9:18am
 The thief fled with thousands of euros, police said.
Plaza Hotel Robbery
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MIDTOWN — An armed robber held up a currency exchange booth at The Plaza Hotel on Monday morning, making off with thousands of euros, according to the NYPD.

The suspect walked into Travelex Currency Services in the food hall, a flight of stairs below the 768 Fifth Ave. hotel lobby, at about 11:07 a.m. and asked to buy 500 euros, police said. As the employee was counting out the cash, the man pulled out a black handgun, grabbed the money out of the worker’s hand, and fled, according to a police report.

The robber made off with about 4,635 euros, a police spokesman said. That's about $5,200 based on current exchange rates.

He was last seen running east on 58th Street, according to authorities.

Police released an image of the man from a security camera in the currency exchange, and described him as being in his 40s, standing about 5-foot-9, and wearing a black peacoat and carrying a black bag.

A security guard for the hotel declined to comment, and representatives of the hotel did not immediately return calls for comment.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS. The public can also submit tips on the website.