Surveillance images released by law enforcement show an unidentified person grabbing merchandise inside a commercial storefront at 185 Avenue C in the East Village around 8 a.m. on Monday, June 8, police said. When a 35-year-old male employee stepped in and confronted the individual, the suspect pulled a knife and took off running southbound on Avenue C. The NYPD is asking nearby residents and businesses to review any security footage that might help detectives put a name to the face.
According to NYPD Crime Stoppers, a short "WANTED FOR A ROBBERY" bulletin shares still frames of the suspect and states that the person tried to walk out of the store without paying. When the employee intervened, the encounter escalated, the bulletin says, and the suspect produced a knife before fleeing on foot southbound on Avenue C.
How to Help
Per the city's Crime Stoppers program, tips that lead to an arrest and indictment may qualify for rewards of up to $3,500. Tipsters can call the main hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), use the Spanish-language line at 1-888-57-PISTA, or send an anonymous internet tip through the NYPD's online portal.
Police Outreach And Context
Short social-media bulletins and surveillance stills have become one of the NYPD's go-to tools to rope in the public's help identifying suspects and linking incidents in different neighborhoods, as a cops hunt quartet of heist suspects piece noted. Investigators often ask for time-stamped video and clear descriptions so they can line up footage from multiple cameras and locations.
Where This Happened
The address listed in the bulletin, 185 Avenue C, sits on an East Village commercial stretch where public business records show retail storefronts have operated for years. In line with NYPD media guidance, police are urging anyone with relevant footage to call the Crime Stoppers hotline or message @NYPDTips on X, including dates, approximate times, and any time-stamped video that might help move the case forward.
Investigation Status
The Crime Stoppers bulletin lists the individual as wanted in connection with an active robbery investigation and does not report any formal charges or an arrest at this time. Anyone with information or video evidence is asked to contact Crime Stoppers by phone or through the department's online tip portal, and tips that lead to an arrest and indictment may be eligible for a cash reward.
