The duo who robbed a Flushing gas station at gunpoint are the same suspects behind a Woodside stickup last month, police announced on Jan. 11.
The NYPD released images of the pair — including one of a suspect donning a Santa Claus hat and beard — as they robbed the BP gas station located at 29-16 Francis Lewis Blvd. at 11:10 p.m. on Jan. 4.
Law enforcement sources said the phony Santa walked into the gas station shop, displayed a handgun and ordered a 26-year-old male clerk to enter the bathroom and lie on the floor.
The fake Santa’s accomplice then removed $900 in cash from the register, police said. The duo then exited the station and got into a silver four-door Honda Civic that sped away northbound on Francis Lewis Boulevard.
Officers from the 109th Precinct responded to the scene; no injuries were reported.
Police described the fake Santa as a light-skinned male who wore dark blue coveralls, light blue shoe covers and white gloves. Santa’s helper, meanwhile, was described as a dark-skinned male who wore a black balaclava, dark blue coveralls and purple gloves.
During their investigation, detectives determined that the pair was also responsible for the Dec. 17 robbery of a 7-Eleven convenience store in Woodside. The suspects in that caper wore blue coveralls and hid their faces behind masks and scarves.
Anyone with information regarding the robbery pattern or the suspects’ whereabouts can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA), visit their website or send a text message to 274637 (CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
