FOREST HILLS GARDENS — Four suspects were being sought by the police in connection to a string of recent robberies in Queens and Manhattan in recent weeks, police said. The robbery pattern involves eight separate incidents, including two in Forest Hills Gardens and one in Rego Park, the NYPD said.
In each case, which always occur in the middle of the night, one or more suspects approaches the victim, who is usually alone, brandishes a firearm and demands the victim to turn over his or her personal belongings, according to the NYPD.
In the first robbery, which occurred June 29 at around 1 a.m., two male suspects allegedly approached a 50-year-old woman close to Slocum Crescent and Greenway Terrace in Forest Hills Gardens, threatened her with a gun and demanded her property, police said. The woman gave the suspects her purse and jewelry before they fled, the NYPD said.
On Jul. 2 at about 12:40 a.m., two female suspects with a knife approached a 51-year-old man, who was walking to his vehicle near 63rd Avenue and Alderton Avenue in Rego Park, and demanded he turn over his wallet, police said. The women then took off with the man’s gym bag and fled in a white sedan, according to the NYPD.
On Jul. 3 at 12:15 a.m., the two male suspects armed with a gun jumped out of a white four-door sedan and demanded money from a 66-year-old man, who had just parked his car near 70th Avenue and Fleet Street in Forest Hills Gardens, police said. One of the suspects grabbed the victim while the other went threw his pockets, the NYPD said.
The suspects appear to be indiscriminate about who they target, according to information about the incidents released by police. Hispanic, white and Asian men and women, who range in age, have been robbed, the NYPD said.
Two of the suspects were described as black women in their early to mid-20s. One is 5-foot-8, 180 to 190 pounds, and the other is 5-foot-2 and 110 to 115 pounds. The two other suspects are described as black men in their early to mid-20s. One is about 6 feet tall and 180 pounds, and the other is approximately 5-foot-5.
Police released surveillance images of the vehicle used in the robberies and of one of the female suspects, who allegedly used a credit card stolen in one of the robberies at a CVS pharmacy in Sunnyside. In addition, a photo of a man wanted for questioning in connection to the robberies was released by authorities.
Those with information should contact NYPD’s Crimestoppers by calling 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting its website at nypdcrimestoppers.com or texting 274637 (CRIMES) and entering TIP577.
