Watch CBS News

CBS2 Exclusive: Video Shows Staten Island Serial Robbery Suspect In Action

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Exclusive CBS2 video Friday night showed a man who police said has been on a robbery spree on Staten Island.

As CBS2's Dave Carlin reported, the man committed six robberies in July alone, and one business was held up twice.

"This is crazy -- twice in three weeks, what's the odds of that?" said deli owner Moe Egaly. "It's crazy. I could've won the lotto if I played."

Egaly is the owner of M&M bagels and deli in Annadale, Staten Island. He showed CBS2 surveillance video of the second armed robbery in his tiny store this month.

A man with a gun, believed to be in his mid-20s, walked in very overdressed for the weather. He demanded money from the clerk, and also had him toss in packs of cigarettes.

The suspect then left with the loot.

"This is a great neighborhood; beautiful, middle-class neighborhood," Egaly said. "This stuff should not be -- I'm not saying it doesn't happen everywhere, but not like this."

Police suspected this was the criminal's return engagement.

"We're scared. scared. We're really scared," said deli owner Ikram Khan.

On July 8 around 10:30 p.m., Khan was the unlucky one staring down a robber's gun at M&M.

"He came over here with a gun and he said, 'Give me your money,'" Khan said. "I think he was joking, but he had a real gun, so I gave him whatever he want."

Sandwiched between the Wednesday, July 8 and Friday, July 31 robberies at M&M, 849 Annadale Rd., there were four other holdups:

Around 4:15 a.m. this past Wednesday, the suspect struck again at the Nome Deli, at 452 Nome Ave. in Springville, police said. Armed with a gun, he demanded money from the clerk and again left with an undetermined sum, police said.

Around 9:40 p.m. Saturday, the suspect held up the Citgo station at 3310 Richmond Ave. in Richmondtown at gunpoint, police said. He again left with an undetermined sum, police said.

"Kind of scary – I live right in the neighborhood," said Jim Coscia of Great Kills.

And around 9:45 p.m. Monday, the suspect entered the Manor Deli at 444 Manor Rd. and demanded money at gunpoint. Once again, he fled with an undetermined sum, police said.

The suspect struck again on Wednesday at a Shell gas station on Amboy Road.

"Wanted" fliers have popped up in businesses across Staten Island, and plenty of surveillance camera footage has been captured to get images.

The suspect was earlier described as a white male between 5 feet 10 inches and 6 feet tall. But the way the man dressed, it is difficult getting a more detailed description.

"Glasses, face covered, even gloves on the hands," Khan said.

"It's going to be hard to get somebody to work here, because nobody wants to work with this," added Egaly. "People come to work to do their job and go home."

So far, the very busy armed robber has not hurt anyone.

Anyone with information was asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS, log onto the Crime Stoppers website, or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and enter TIP577.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.