Police are asking for the public’s help tracking down a gun-toting suspect accused of robbing a Canal Street jewelry store earlier this month. The holdup happened March 1 at about 6:50 p.m., when investigators say the person pulled a black firearm, forced people inside to the ground and demanded jewelry before taking off eastbound on Canal Street. No arrests have been made so far, and detectives are still combing through surveillance footage to identify the suspect.
The NYPD’s Crime Stoppers account put out a wanted alert on March 25 that shared images of the person of interest along with a transcript and offered up to $3,500 for information that leads to an arrest, per NYPD Crime Stoppers. The alert pins the location at 253 Canal Street, within the 5th Precinct.
What Officials Released
According to the alert, the suspect walked into the shop, pulled out a black handgun and forced victims to lie on the floor while demanding jewelry. The person then ran off on foot, heading east along Canal Street. Investigators say the suspect has not yet been identified and are urging anyone who recognizes them from the images to speak up.
How To Submit Tips
Anyone with information can call the Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish speakers, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Tipsters may be eligible for a reward, per the NYPD's Crime Stoppers page. Tips can also be sent in online or through the department’s Crime Stoppers app, which allows people to remain anonymous.
Where It Happened
The alert lists the address as 253 Canal Street, a jewelry storefront on the busy Canal Street wholesale and tourist strip. Business listings identify Sang Sang Jewelry at that location, which matches the type of business described in the alert, per MapQuest.
Neighbors Say Crime Is A Concern
Merchants and residents along Canal Street have repeatedly raised alarms about theft and street-level crime in the area, a backdrop that helps explain why police pushed the suspect’s image out so widely, as NY1 has reported. Local coverage shows business owners have been pressing for more consistent enforcement in recent months.
Investigators are asking anyone with video, photos or other information to contact Crime Stoppers, file a tip through the online portal or use the department’s anonymous app. The online portal is available at Crime Stoppers, and rewards of up to $3,500 may be approved for tips that lead to an arrest.
