Police released on Tuesday night a disturbing video of an armed robbery at a Maspeth grocery store in which the crooks not only stole the shop’s proceeds but also a clerk’s personal belongings.
The stickup occurred at 11:02 p.m. on Sunday night inside the Flushing Avenue Deli and Grocery located at 63-22 Flushing Ave.
Authorities said the crooks — both described as black males wearing masks and hooded sweatshirts — walked into the location and displayed firearms.
One of the crooks was shown on the video jumping over the counter and confronting a male clerk, forcing him to lie on the floor. After taking cash from the register, the bandit would later jostle the victim and remove his wallet and cellphone.
Police said the crooks robbed another man inside the store, though that was not shown on video.
In all, authorities noted, the thieves got away with $5,000 in cash removed from the store’s registers, the victims’ cellphones and wallets — which contained debit cards and a combined $400 in currency — and 10 scratch-off lottery tickets. The suspects then fled the scene in an unknown direction.
Officers from the 104th Precinct responded to the robbery; no injuries were reported.
Anyone with information regarding the stickup is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS, visit their website or send a text message to 274637 (CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
