Police are asking for the public’s help in finding a man suspected of stealing cash from a dozen businesses and people in Brooklyn over the past two months. The man has mainly targeted stores where women were behind the counter, taking money from the register by verbally threatening them or pulling out a knife, according to the NYPD.
The first incident was reported on Oct. 13 around 5 p.m. at a Dunkin’ on Atlantic Avenue in Boerum Hill. NYPD officials said the man threatened a 35-year-old female employee, stole money from the register and fled, police said. The woman was not hurt in the incident.
In the following weeks, the man allegedly robbed a restaurant several doors down on Atlantic Avenue, a Park Slope restaurant and establishments in Flatbush, Prospect Lefferts Gardens and Fort Greene. Police said he also stole money from a few women at ATMs. In one instance, officials said he pushed a 29-year-old woman to the ground, causing her minor injuries.
The most recent incident occurred on Nov. 30 around 5:40 p.m., when the man asked a 22-year-old woman to exchange currency at a shop on Dekalb Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn, according to the NYPD. When she refused, police said he jumped over the counter, pulled out a knife and took money from the register before running away.
Police said the man is about 6 feet tall and slim. Surveillance images released by the NYPD show him wearing a black jacket from The North Face.
Robberies have declined several percent so far this year across Brooklyn, compared to the same period last year, according to police data. Citywide, robberies have dropped 10%.
Police are asking anyone with information about the incidents to call the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). People can also submit on the Crime Stoppers website.
This story is based on preliminary information from police and may be updated.