A lunchtime stop at a neighborhood slice shop turned into a costly ordeal when two men allegedly snatched a 68-year-old woman's purse holding $5,000 inside Joe's Pizzeria in Cypress Hills, police said. The woman was not injured, and officers say the suspects took off on foot.
According to News 12 Brooklyn, the woman arrived at 1121 Liberty Ave just before 12:30 p.m. on May 4, shortly after withdrawing the cash from a nearby bank. Inside the shop, she briefly handed her purse to a 68-year-old acquaintance. Police say the suspects then argued with the acquaintance, forcibly grabbed the purse and ran out, heading north toward Lincoln Avenue.
Investigators say one suspect was last seen dressed in all black and carrying a red Target shopping bag. The second suspect wore a black hat, a blue surgical facemask, light-blue jeans, black sneakers and a black jacket.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or to submit an anonymous tip online. NYPD Crime Stoppers notes that tipsters may be eligible for a reward if their information leads to an arrest.
Where it happened
Police say the theft took place inside Joe's Pizzeria at 1121 Liberty Ave in Cypress Hills, according to the pizzeria's listing. Investigators are urging anyone who was near Liberty and Lincoln avenues around the time of the incident to check their security cameras and reach out to police with any potential footage.
