Police need help in finding two suspects tied to a recent robbery of an Astoria cellphone store.
The NYPD released video on April 29 of the two men allegedly responsible for the April 18 robbery of the Verizon Wireless store located at 22-39 31st St.
At about 12:50 p.m. that day, police said, the suspects walked into the shop and began talking to employees and looking at phones. Then, one of the suspects held open the door of the store, while the other forcibly removed a cellphone from the display, valued at $1,000.
Law enforcement sources said that a 25-year-old male store employee was punched in the face while attempting to stop the duo from leaving. The suspects managed to flee the shop and were last seen going southbound on 31st Street toward 23rd Avenue.
Officers from the 114th Precinct responded to the scene. The employee suffered bruising and swelling from the impact, but he refused medical attention.
The pair was caught on surveillance video walking on 31st Street in Astoria following the incident.
Cops described both suspects as black men in their early 20s. The first suspect stands 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing about 150 pounds, and was last seen wearing a green jacket and blue jeans. The second perpetrator stands 5 feet, 9 inches tall, weighing about 155 pounds and was last seen wearing a dark jacket and dark jeans.
Anyone with information regarding the robbery should call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls will be kept confidential.
