E Harlem Bodega Workers Attacked During Armed Robbery, Police Say

EAST HARLEM, NY — Two East Harlem bodega workers were held captive and beaten in a back room of their store during an armed robbery, police said.

The robbery occurred in the afternoon of Friday, Sept. 13 at the Sweet Water Deli on Second Avenue between East 11th and 112th streets, police said. Two unknown men entered the store, flashed a gun and ordered the workers to walk into a storage room, said police.

Once the workers were inside the room they were beaten and slashed with a knife, police said. The workers suffered injuries such as lacerations, swelling and pain.

The robbers stole cash from the store's register and also took the store's security video system before fleeing the location. Police were able to find surveillance photos of the two men and released them this week in hopes of identifying the thieves.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).