A 28-year-old man was approached by three unidentified individuals inside 33-70 Prince Street on Saturday, September 5, robbed of his phone, backpack and an electronic device, and left watching as the group sped off in a white Porsche. No injuries were reported, but police are still trying to identify all three suspects more than a week later.
According to NYPD Crime Stoppers
, the incident unfolded around 4 p.m. inside 33-70 Prince Street, when the three unidentified individuals approached the victim and made a threatening statement. Two of the three simulated a firearm during the encounter, the agency says, while a third individual forcibly removed the victim's cell phone. The group also took a book bag containing an electronic device from the victim's vehicle before fleeing in a 2021 white Porsche to unknown locations.
The address where the robbery happened sits inside a commercial building built in 1984 near the 7 subway line, according to StreetEasy. The property listing describes an eighth-floor office suite.
What the Law Says About the Alleged Robbery
The alleged conduct maps onto two distinct felony charges under New York law. Forcibly stealing property while displaying what appears to be a firearm constitutes Robbery in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony punishable by five to 25 years in state prison, per the New York State Senate. Separately, committing a robbery while aided by another person actually present constitutes Robbery in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony carrying 3.5 to 15 years, under a related section of state law.
Both statutes carry mandatory state prison terms upon conviction, though no suspects have been identified or charged as of this writing. The case falls under the jurisdiction of the NYPD's 109th Precinct, headquartered at 37-05 Union Street in Downtown Flushing under Commanding Officer Deputy Inspector Karam Chowdhury. The precinct serves Downtown Flushing, East Flushing, Queensboro Hill, College Point, Malba, Whitestone, Beechhurst and Bay Terrace.
Crime in the 109th
The Prince Street robbery is among the incidents under investigation in the 109th Precinct.
That case crossed Queens North and Queens South and would require coordination across two borough commands to track the suspects' getaway vehicles.
Open Questions
Surveillance tools remain an open question in the investigation.
Investigators have not said whether the 28-year-old victim was targeted specifically or whether the white Porsche used in the getaway has been identified or registered to anyone. Those details remain open questions in the investigation as of this writing.
How to Submit a Tip
NYPD Crime Stoppers is asking anyone with information to come forward, either by calling 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or by sending a direct message to @NYPDTips. Spanish-language callers can also reach a dedicated hotline at 1-888-57-PISTA (74782), a confidential option Hoodline has highlighted in coverage of other Queens robbery cases.
Under Crime Stoppers procedures, cash rewards of up to $3,500 are offered for information leading to the arrest and indictment of a suspect in a felony case. The reward structure has featured in other recent Queens robbery investigations, including an April case in which a knife-wielding trio hit a Flushing nail salon while police dangled the same $3,500 reward.
