ELMHURST — A group of robbers took thousands of dollars worth of electronics from two shops within minutes after distracting workers and then spraying them with an unknown substance, police said.
The crew of six robbers, estimated to be between 16 and 20 years old, first entered an electronics store at 40-04 Warren St. on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 6:35 p.m., police said.
They asked questions to distract him, and when he pulled out a cell phone, one of the suspect sprayed him with an unknown substance, took the phone, and fled, according to the NYPD.
The victim was treated at Elmhurst Hospital for injuries from the substance.
Just 15 minutes after robbing the first shop, the crew entered a bridal shop and cell phone store at 90-22 Roosevelt Ave. They took $3,000 worth of electronics from a display case, and sprayed a worker with an unknown substance after he confronted them, police said.
They all fled west on Roosevelt Avenue. The victim was not hospitalized, police said.
If you have information about these incidents, the NYPD asks that you call their Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
