A violent stickup at a Rockaway Boulevard storefront has Queens detectives hunting for a suspect who allegedly pistol-whipped a worker, then walked out with armfuls of high-end phones and cash on a busy Friday night.
Police say it happened at 96-21 Rockaway Boulevard on the evening of Friday, April 10, at about 7:30 p.m. According to investigators, a robber struck a 32-year-old employee in the head with a firearm before fleeing with dozens of cellphones and cash, leaving the business shaken and triggering a citywide wanted alert.
NYPD Releases Wanted Alert
According to NYPD Crime Stoppers, the unidentified suspect entered the business at 96-21 Rockaway Boulevard and removed 29 cellular phones from the register, valued at about $21,000, and took approximately $4,000 in cash. The post identifies the victim as a 32-year-old man who was hit in the head with a firearm. As of the time of the alert, the suspect remained at large.
How To Report Tips
The NYPD’s Crime Stoppers program offers rewards of up to $3,500 for anonymous information that leads to an arrest and indictment, and asks anyone with details to call 1-800-577-TIPS or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA, or submit a tip online, according to the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers page. Tips can be filed anonymously through the program’s portal and the Police Foundation administers reward payouts.
Pattern Of Targeted Store Thefts In Southeast Queens
Local reporting shows a string of targeted robberies hitting commercial corridors in southeast Queens this year, with investigators linking multiple robberies in the Cross Bay Boulevard area to broader patterns, per Cross Bay News. Merchants told local outlets that quick, armed thefts of high-value items like phones have forced some stores to invest in cameras, limit cash on site, or alter hours.
Potential Charges
Using a firearm to assault an employee during a theft can lead to robbery and weapons charges under New York law, with penalties that increase depending on whether a gun was displayed or used, per New York Penal Law. Prosecutors will decide exact charges after an arrest and an evidentiary review.
Anyone with information or surveillance video is urged to contact Crime Stoppers, DM @NYPDTips, or call the tip line. A reward may be available for information that leads to an arrest. The NYPD said it is continuing to investigate the scene at 96-21 Rockaway Boulevard.
