All this chaos for an iPhone charger.
Police say two suspects are on the run after a violent robbery inside a commercial business on Hillside Avenue in Jamaica on Saturday night that left two men hurt. The incident unfolded around 9 p.m., when investigators say the pair worked together to swipe an iPhone charger, then took off in a dark-colored Honda Accord.
A 71-year-old man suffered pain and bruising to his chin, according to police, while a 31-year-old man was left with a cut to his lip. Detectives say they are still trying to put names to the faces of the suspects and are appealing directly to the public for help.
According to NYPD Crime Stoppers, the department circulated a "WANTED FOR A ROBBERY" alert on X detailing the Feb. 28 incident inside a commercial establishment in the 107th Precinct. The post states an unknown man hurled a can of Red Bull at the 71-year-old, and that both an unknown man and an unknown woman struck that victim. It also notes the 31-year-old man sustained a laceration to his lip. The social media notice includes surveillance images and urges anyone who recognizes the duo to contact investigators.
How to report tips
Anyone with information or video of the incident can call the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA, or submit tips through the program’s online portal. As outlined on the city’s Crime Stoppers page, tips can be sent in anonymously and may be eligible for a reward.
Queens crime snapshot
Robberies and assaults have been surfacing across Queens throughout the winter, and the NYPD has repeatedly pushed out wanted images and public appeals in similar cases. QNS has chronicled several of these recent wanted alerts and CompStat breakdowns that show how robbery numbers shift from precinct to precinct, underscoring how both patrol strategies and community tips factor into investigations.
Legal context
Under New York law, robbery is defined as forcible stealing and can be charged in different degrees, depending on whether physical force, threats or a weapon were involved and whether anyone was injured. Prosecutors consider those details when deciding what counts to file. The New York State Senate publishes the penal code sections that spell out the degrees of robbery and the penalties attached.
