LI Pizzeria Owner Speaks Out After Delivery Man Is Robbed Apparently At Gunpoint

LONG ISLAND, NY — The owner of a pizzeria is speaking out in hopes his words will help others in the community by highlighting the recent robbery of his delivery man in what he believes is part of a pattern.

The delivery man was robbed of some cash and credit cards by someone who displayed what appeared to be a gun at around 8 p.m. on March 1 on Doane Avenue, according to police.

He was not hurt in the attack, a police spokesperson told Patch.

Kevin, who does not want his last name used owns The Pizza Shoppe in East Patchogue, said he and his family keep in tune with the greater Patchogue community and care about it.

"I think people should be aware," he told Patch on Thursday, adding that it was the second robbery within a week and he believes it was "pattern-making."

A Chinese food delivery man was robbed on Feb. 25, police previously told Patch.

The Pizza Shoppe's employee was dispatched to the location for a delivery, and a gun was pulled on him, McCoy said.

He is not being identified because he is the victim of a crime.

"For a first time experience like that, it's not good," Kevin said. "You know what I mean?"

It was shocking but, after a week, the man felt better.

Kevin, who has owned the South Country Road business for 25 years, said he has never had a problem with deliveries before.

His delivery staff is always on alert anyway, but what he considers the seemingly "pre-planned" nature of the robbery has given him cause for some concern.

"With 25 years, and thousands and thousands of trips — and never," he said. "Maybe a crazy customer, like, irate because their food was late, but nothing like this."

He said it reminded him of a news story several years ago about a spate of gas stations and 7-Elevens that were robbed.

He thought: "Why doesn't someone go around the community and tell everybody?"

"I just figured we reach out, just to, like, tell the community, not over the pattern, but whatever it is," he said. "I was trying to make people aware. That's all, yeah, no alarms or anything else."

Anyone with information about the robbery can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS, a confidential police hotline.