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Needle-Wielding Man Menaces Workers, Steals Body Wash and Candy, NYPD Says

By  Aidan Gardiner and Eddie Small | February 2, 2017 9:47am | Updated on February 3, 2017 10:05am

 The suspect threatened staff in three Longwood shops with a hypodermic needle, police said.
The suspect threatened staff in three Longwood shops with a hypodermic needle, police said.
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NYPD

THE BRONX — A man stole body wash and candy from a trio of stores in Longwood by threatening staff with a hypodermic needle, NYPD officials said.

Johan Hernandez, 43, who can be seen in police photos released Thursday, has swiped items from shelves in three incidents since December, police said.

In the first robbery, about 4:20 p.m. on Dec. 15, Hernandez put about $140 worth of body wash into his pockets and then threatened a 25-year-old woman working at a Duane Reade at 941 Southern Blvd. with a needle, police said.

More than a month later, Hernandez strode into a Walgreens at 1041 Westchester Ave. about 12:25 p.m. on Jan. 20, where he shoplifted items and threatened at 32-year-old woman working there with a needle, police said.

Four days later, on Jan. 24 about 12:17 p.m., he stole about $30 worth of candy from a Dollar Tree at 925 Hunts Point Ave. and threatened a 40-year-old woman working there with a needle, police said.

There were no reported injuries in any of the robberies, police said.

Hernandez, who lives in Longwood, was arrested Thursday when he returned to the Dollar Tree store on Hunts Point Avenue and police found him with a hypodermic needle in his pocket, according to the NYPD.

He has been charged with robbery and attempted robbery, police said. He was waiting arraignment as of Friday morning.

Hernandez has roughly 40 prior arrests dating back to 1992 on charges including petit larceny, trespassing and possession of stolen property, according to the NYPD.