Police are asking Flatbush residents to speak up after a brazen midday robbery on Church Avenue left a store employee punched in the face and a thief still on the run.
The incident happened on May 8 at about 1:05 p.m., according to a bulletin posted June 3 by NYPD Crime Stoppers. Investigators say an unidentified person walked into a commercial establishment at 2811 Church Avenue, grabbed merchandise off the shelves and then punched a 58-year-old employee in the face before running off on foot.
Where it happened
The robbery took place at 2811 Church Avenue in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, in a one-story commercial building listed on StreetEasy. The address sits in Community District 317 and the NYPD's 67th Precinct, along a busy strip of small businesses that lean heavily on daytime foot traffic.
How to help
The Crime Stoppers bulletin lists the anonymous tip line at 1-800-577-TIPS and a Spanish-language line at 1-888-57-PISTA, along with options to submit tips online. As detailed by NYPD Crime Stoppers, anyone with information, video or other details can call or use the online form at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org. Tipsters can also reach out via the program’s X account.
Neighborhood context
The Church Avenue corridor has seen other violence in recent years, including an April 2025 shooting reported near the same block, underscoring the risks faced by local merchants. Coverage of that earlier case is available from Patch.
No arrests were listed in the latest Crime Stoppers bulletin, and detectives are still investigating while urging witnesses to come forward. According to the New York City Police Foundation, tips that lead to an arrest may qualify for rewards of up to $3,500.
