Police Release Video In Suspected Downtown Manhattan Store Robbery Spree
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police on Monday released a surveillance video in the robbery of a NoLIta wine store – one of several robberies in Downtown Manhattan that police believe are connected.
Store owner Jean-Baptiste Humbert told CBS2's Steve Langford the thieves took a thousand dollars.
"They went behind the register and looked everywhere and tried to find cash in many different places," Humbert said.
The wine sellers said the knife-wielding thieves who robbed his shop even went after his clerk's wallet.
"He actually also had to give them cash from his own pocket too, they took his cash," Humbert said.
Surveillance showed two hooded robbers emptying out the cash register drawer.
They said there have been five other robberies at high-end stores, also by knife-point, in Soho and the East Village since January 21.
Police investigating the possible connection said they all have the same M.O.: one suspect waits by the door, while the other, armed with a knife, demands money.
Police said the other incidents happened at the following times and locations:
• Around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday Jan. 21 at the Goldwater Boutique, at 84 E. 7th St. in the East Village. Two suspects entered the store and demanded money, and an employee complied and handed over $240;
• Around 4:45 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, at Bond Chocolate, at 63 Bond St. in NoHo. One suspect entered, took $240 and fled;
• Around 7:40 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, at a clothing store at 251 Elizabeth St. in NoLIta. One suspect ended up leaving without any proceeds;
• Around 1:50 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at a clothing store at 250 Mott St. in NoLIta. One suspect took $275 and fled;
• Around 7:15 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, at Molton Brown, at 128 Spring St. in SoHo. The suspect took $400 and fled.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS. You can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or texting tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
