$15,000 Reward Offered In Search For Serial Long Island Gas Station Robbery Suspect
MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Authorities are appealing to the public to help catch a suspect wanted in a series of armed gas station robberies on Long Island.
Officials said the man has robbed nine gas stations in Nassau County and six in Suffolk County in the past seven weeks. Police said he strikes between 9 p.m. and midnight and in each case, he wears a hat and threatens the attendant with a gun.
Reward Offered In Search For Serial LI Gas Station Robbery Suspect
"He knows there are cameras in the location just by his mannerisms," Acting Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter said. "When he comes in, he's actually tilting his head down, using hats to conceal his face."
Krumpter said it is not known if the suspect has a getaway car or bicycle or if he simply runs away on foot.
Reward Offered In Search For Serial LI Gas Station Robbery Suspect
"This pattern spans 60 miles from Elmont to Riverhead," Krumpter said. "The most important thing we're asking you to take away from today is if you see something say something."
The unified investigation includes the FBI. Police have been distributing pictures to gas stations and patrol cars. The public can help, too, as a $15,000 reward has been offered, CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff reported.
"(He has a) thin, muscular build, bucket hat. Bucket hat changes," Suffolk County Deputy Ins. William Doherty said.
"There is never any other people in these establishments, so we believe he may be casing these establishments prior to the robbery. So if you see someone suspicious by a gas station, please call 911," added Nassau County Police Det. Lt. Kenneth Catalani.
The suspect strikes after dark, keeping customers away.
"It makes you feel very uncomfortable," one person told Gusoff said.
"I don't want to live like that," another added.
The suspect's demands are threatening and quick. And on the heels of another armed robbery spree earlier this year, that one fatal, clerks have been urged to comply.
"Our life is more important. If we say no to them he can just press the trigger," one person said.
Police said they don't have a clearer picture of the robber's face because most gas stations place cameras high up to catch shoplifters.
But police are hoping someone will recognize the suspect's clothing, his walk or his build.
Officers will be staking out gas stations in marked and unmarked cars, Gusoff reported.
If you have information about the suspect, you are urged to call Nassau CrumeStoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS or Suffolk CrimeStoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.
