2 Men Wanted In 7 Gas Station Robberies In Brooklyn, Queens

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police are on the hunt for two men wanted for holding up seven gas stations over six days last month in Brooklyn and Queens.

The armed robberies occurred between Feb. 20 and Feb. 26. CBS2's Hazel Sanchez reports one robbery happened Feb. 20 at a Mobil Gas Station in Jamaica. The suspects then hit four more gas stations on Feb. 21 -- two in East Williamsburg, one in Bushwick and another in Cypress Hills.

In each incident, police said the suspects walk into the gas station, point a gun at the clerk and demand money.

In one incident, police said one of the suspects pointed a gun at a 50-year-old customer's head before turning his attention to the clerk. He tried to grab money from the cash register but fled empty handed, police said.

In another incident, the suspects took a 57-year-old customer's phone in addition to $729 from the register at a Gulf gas station on Hillside Avenue.

The most recent holdup occurred last Friday just after 4 a.m. at a Citgo station on Astoria Boulevard in East Elmhurst. In that case, police said the suspects made off with $400 in cash and several boxes of cigarettes.

Gas station owner Sher Singh told CBS2's Hazel Sanchez that he was held at gunpoint.

"I scared. I scared. I give him money," he told CBS2.

Gurjit Singh, the owner's nephew, was also working at the gas station at the time of the holdup.

"He gotta gun push right here and push a back. There other guy take me here and put me behind the counter," he said.

Gurjit Singh said he emptied the cash register for the robbers.

"I was so scared. He said, 'Open the door,' and I opened the door," he told CBS2.

The Singhs said they will have some peace of mind when these men are caught.

Investigators told CBS2 they believe the same men robbed the Gulf station on Hillside Avenue only two hours before robbing the East Elmhurst Citgo.

Police have released surveillance video and photos of the suspects.

One suspect is wearing the same dark hoodie and blue gloves he was seen wearing at the East Elmhurst gas station.

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