Armed Robber Targets Chelsea Meat Packing Company: NYPD

CHELSEA, NY — A hooded-thief robbed the Chelsea office of a meat packing company at gun point Monday and made off with thousands, police said.

An umbrella-clad robber walked into the office of Joa Meats on West Street near Ganesvort Street at 2:30 p.m. and whipped out a black firearm at the 71-year-old receptionists, police said.

The man forced the woman to walk toward the back office of a separate company, Interstate Foods, where two other employees, a 35-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman, were located. The assailant threatened all three workers and demanded cash.

The 35-year-old quickly retrieved a key and unlocked a cabinet where he handed over roughly $2,400 to the mugger, who then ordered all three employees into a bathroom and told them not to come out for at least five minutes, authorities said.

No one was injured during the robbery.

Police describe the man as 35-years-old, six-feet tall and 170 pounds with a slim build and a mustache. He was last spotted wearing a baseball hat, a gray hooded sweatshirt, camouflage pants and brown shoes. He was also carrying a black handgun and a black umbrella.

Photo courtesy of the NYPD