New York police are searching for an aggressive gang that has robbed at least three stores – two in Brooklyn and one in Manhattan – using pepper spray as a weapon against employees.
In each robbery, the masked robbers entered the store, pepper-sprayed a worker, and then cash and merchandise stolensaid the New York police.
NYPD published video footage from a security camera showing the apparent first robbery, which occurred shortly after 11 p.m. on May 16 at a store in Coney Island Avenue en Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn.
The video shows three men walking around the convenience store and then one jumping over the counter while another pepper sprays a 21-year-old woman who was behind the counter. She tried to escape the robbery, but the thieves grabbed her violently and sprayed her again, shows the video.
The men made off with about $500 worth of merchandise. “The victim suffered minor injuries as a result and did not require medical attention at the scene,” the NYPD said.
Police believe this incident is linked to two other similar robberies:
On May 19, two people robbed a store in 7910 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn. One of the individuals unleashed pepper spray on a 32-year-old employee while the other removed merchandise and approximately $700 from the cash register.
On May 29, two men robbed a store in 496 LaGuardia Place, Manhattan. One of the individuals pepper sprayed a 29-year-old victim while demanding property. The individuals took about $400 dollars from the cash register
No arrests have been made. Anyone with information should call. at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) and in Spanish 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). also through the page crimestoppers.nypdonline.org or by text message to 274637 (CRIMES), followed by TIP577. All communications are strictly confidential.
–
