The NYPD released video surveillance Friday that shows an armed robbery in Ridgewood earlier this month and investigators believe the suspect is behind two other robberies this month.
A 25-year-old man was walking near the corner of Metropolitan Avenue and Flushing Avenue in Ridgewood on the morning of Sunday, July 10, when the suspect approached and pointed a gray handgun at the victim and demanded his cellphone, according to the NYPD. The man complied, handing over his cellphone and wallet containing credit cards.
The suspect fled the scene and was last seen jumping into a purple sedan which drove off in an unknown direction, police said, adding that there were no injuries. The suspect was observed later inside a McDonald’s located at 652 Meeker Ave. using the victim’s credit card, police said.
The same suspect struck about two hours later at the corner of Roosevelt Avenue and 155th Street in Murray Hill just south of Northern Boulevard where he approached a 65-year-old woman from behind and forcibly grabbed her purse before driving off in a red car, police said. The victim sustained pain and swelling to her arm. EMS responded and she was treated and released at the scene.
The suspect was at it again on Tuesday, July 19, when he approached a 59-year-old man at the corner of Maple Avenue and Saull Street in Flushing at around 11 a.m. and pulled out a firearm and said, “Phone, phone, phone, money, money, money,” according to the NYPD. The suspect grabbed the victim’s cell phone and ran off towards College Point Boulevard. He was last seen climbing into a late model Nissan Maxima. There were no reported injuries as a result of the incident, police said.
The NYPD released surveillance images of the suspect and described him as having a medium complexion, a mustache short dark hair and 5’8” tall with a stocky build. He was last seen wearing a blue and gray hooded sweat jacket, black sweatpants and sneakers.
Anyone with information in regard to the identity of the suspects is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at nypdcrimestoppers.com, or on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
