Thieves Terrorize Multiple Smoke Shops Throughout Manhattan

Smoke Shop Thieves Sought by Cops

The NYPD is searching for four males who robbed a series of smoke shops and grocery stores throughout Manhattan. -Photo by NYPD

By Dan Gesslein

Manhattan Voice

December 15, 2023

MANHATTAN - The NYPD is searching for four young suspects in the robbery of multiple smoke shops and grocery stores throughout Manhattan. 

Investigators are looking for the four men in connection with a series of robberies in grocery stores and smoke shops dating back to October. Cops said the first cases had the crew trying to skip out on paying for sandwiches and attempts to steal a tobacco grinder. 

However, the crew upped their game by the fourth attempt. On November 15, the group entered a smoke shop on East 70th Street and approached the 23-year-old clerk at the counter. The men pushed the worker out of the way and went behind the counter where they removed $1,225 in merchandise.  

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At a Brooklyn deli on Graham Avenue, the suspects smashed a display case and stole $1,160 in merchandise, cops said. 

On November 28, the crew robbed a smoke shop on Columbus Avenue. The robbers broke the door to the counter and gained access. Cops said the robbers beat the 25-year-old worker and removed $300 cash from the register. They then smashed a display case and stole an unknown amount of smoke-related merchandise. 

On November 30, the crew robbed a smoke shop on 9th Avenue. Cops said the crew walked up to a 24-year-old worker in the store and repeatedly beat him about the head. The robbers then broke the glass counter and removed $1,500 in merchandise. 

The same crew robbed another store on 10th on December 2, cops said. 

The final robbery took place at around 10 pm on December 11 inside a smoke shop on West 23rd Street. Cops said one of the crew walked up to the 28-year-old employee and asked him about products in the store. While the worker’s back was turned, the other crew members hopped over the counter and removed $300 in merchandise. When the worker caught on and tried to stop the robbery, the robbers grabbed and then threatened him with a metal pole. The worker backed off and the robbers fled on foot. 

The suspects are described as four males who are in their early 20s. They have slim builds and dark complexions, cops said. 

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or on Twitter @NYPDTips. 

All calls are strictly confidential.