Two cigarette-hungry bandits have been slipping in and out of 7-Eleven stores in Queens and Manhattan, and the NYPD says it is time they stopped getting away with it. Detectives on Thursday released surveillance images of two men they believe are behind a recent pattern of convenience-store robberies in both boroughs. Police say the pair hit multiple 7-Eleven locations, swiping large quantities of cigarettes and cash before taking off either on foot or in a silver vehicle. Investigators have posted the images along with a tip line while they keep canvassing store owners and combing through video.
Details From NYPD Crime Stoppers Post
According to NYPD Crime Stoppers, the two men are linked to hold-ups at 7-Eleven stores on Jan. 26 and Feb. 2, along with two more incidents in Manhattan and Queens last weekend. Police say the suspects grabbed roughly $2,800 in cigarettes on Jan. 26, about $5,241 on Feb. 2, and approximately $4,250 in the Queens incident last Tuesday. In the Midtown Manhattan hold-up last Sunday, they allegedly took about $1,000 from the register and 27 packs of cigarettes.
Investigators say that during the Manhattan robbery, one suspect "simulated a knife" in his waistband and ordered a 25-year-old employee not to move. In the various incidents, police say, the pair then fled on foot or in a silver vehicle. The Crime Stoppers post spells out specific movements, including one case where the suspects ran northbound on 63rd Street and another where they headed west on East 33rd Street. The post itself opens with the line "WANTED FOR A CITYWIDE ROBBERY PATTERN" and asks anyone with information to reach out as the investigation continues. Police note that at least one of the listed incidents resulted in no injuries.
Retail Impact And How Stores Respond
Retailers and loss-prevention experts say the focus on cigarettes is no surprise. Tobacco and other small, easy-to-resell products are frequent targets in thefts, a pattern that shows up alongside broader increases in shoplifting and retail-violence incidents. Research from the National Retail Federation on retail theft and violence documents rising shoplifting reports and mounting concerns about theft-related aggression, a combination that makes life harder for neighborhood convenience stores trying to keep staff safe.
Store operators told CSP Daily News that common responses include keeping cigarettes locked or behind the register, upgrading lighting and camera coverage, and stepping up employee training to reduce risk during robberies or attempted thefts.
How To Pass Along Tips
Anyone who recognizes the men or has surveillance or cellphone footage from the stores or nearby blocks is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. The NYPD says tips can be sent via DM on X to @NYPDTips, by calling 1-800-577-TIPS, or through the NYPD Crime Stoppers page, where tipsters can remain anonymous.
