UPPER EAST SIDE — A robbery suspect who police say threatened to kill a bodega worker in July is being sought for a second robbery he committed while wearing a white surgical mask on his face, police said.
In the most recent incident, the suspect walked into Smoke Shop at 1140 First Ave. at 63rd Street at about 4 p.m. on Aug. 10, grabbed a drink from the refrigerator and placed it on the counter with some change, according to authorities.
After a bodega worker began counting the change, the suspect went behind the counter and fought with him, before taking roughly $450 from the cash register and fleeing north on foot, police said.
The man was described as 30 to 40 years old, standing 6 feet tall, with a blue T-shirt around his head, a white surgical mask on his face, and wearing a gray T-shirt and dark-colored pants, police said.
A surveillance video released by police shows the man wearing a blue shirt and tan cargo shorts.
Police say he is the same man who robbed Tramway News at 1147 Second Ave. at 60th Street on July 12.
In that incident, the suspect walked in and told the employee not to move or he would kill him, but didn't display a weapon. He then walked behind the counter and took $2,000 and an iPhone worth $300, police said.
Anyone with information in regards to these incidents is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).
