By Connor Adams Sheets
Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying and locating a man who has committed two crimes so far this summer in the Whitestone area.
He was behind a larceny earlier this month at a northeast Queens CVS and an attempted robbery last month at a gas station nearby.
Police at the 109th Precinct said they believe the suspect may be dangerous because the second incident involved violence, but they do not think the crimes make up a specific criminal pattern.
“We believe the man who robbed the CVS was the same male involved in the attempted robbery of the gas station, and during the attempted robbery of the gas station, he assaulted the attendant,” Crime Prevention Officer Anthony LoVerme said Tuesday.
The man, who has dark hair, is heavyset and appears to be in his 50s, stole a couple of cartons of cigarettes from the CVS store, at 20-21 Francis Lewis Blvd., at 8:45 p.m. July 6, police said.
That larceny came on the heels of a June 26 attempted robbery at the gas station at 150-17 Cross Island Pkwy., police said. The suspect entered the store, demanded money and assaulted the attendant before fleeing the premises on foot, police said.
“We’re hoping the public can identify who he is,” LoVerme said. “I’m guessing that he lives in the Whitestone area, because both of those incidents were in the Whitestone area.”
Anyone with information about the suspect or either incident should contact the 109th Precinct’s detective squad at 718-321-2294.
Reach reporter Connor Adams Sheets by e-mail at csheets@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
