Detectives are investigating a pair of service station robberies in Maspeth and Middle Village that occurred just 30 minutes apart early on Sunday morning, law enforcement sources said.
According to the NYPD, the first stickup occurred at 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 24 inside the BP station located at 59-36 Maurice Ave., near the Long Island Expressway, in Maspeth.
Authorities said that two suspects — described as black males — entered the station’s mini-mart and pretended to shop for merchandise. Upon approaching the counter, manned by a 58-year-old male clerk, one of the perpetrators displayed a small handgun.
Police said the crooks then removed $500 in cash from the register and fled the scene in an unknown direction.
Approximately 30 minutes later, law enforcement sources stated, two armed robbers visited the Mobil gas station located 69-08 Eliot Ave. in Middle Village. The location is about 1.2 miles away from the BP station in Maspeth, or about a 5-minute drive, according to Google Maps.
As in the first incident, sources familiar with the investigation said, two unidentified black males shopped for items, then brought them to the counter and confronted a 39-year-old male clerk. One of the suspects then produced a small black handgun and demanded cash.
The bandits proceeded to remove $1,000 in cash from the register, then exited the store; they were last seen fleeing inside what police described as a black hatchback traveling in an unknown direction.
Officers from the 104th Precinct responded to both incidents, and police launched a search of the surrounding areas for the suspects. Despite their efforts, no immediate arrests were made.
The 104th Precinct Detective Squad is conducting the investigation.
