Bandits Rob Three Queens Stores In 10 Min By Faking Gun: NYPD

QUEENS, NY — Bandits robbed three Queens stores in a 10-minute span by faking that they had guns, police said.

The foursome nabbed nearly $5,000 during the Friday spate of robberies that unfolded along a stretch of Union Turnpike, authorities said.

Video released by the NYPD shows three men all dressed in masks and dark clothing enter one store.

The first robbery took place about 10 p.m. when three men walked into Double J Deli at 168-02 Union Turnpike, police said.

One man placed an object in a 60-year-old employee's back and demanded he open the cash register, authorities said. The other two robbers cleared the register of roughly $1,000 as a fourth bandit stayed outside as a lookout, police said.

The robbers ran away from the store, only to strike again less than five minutes later at Express Deli, at 79-02 Parson Blvd., authorities said.

As one robber simulated a firearm toward a 27-year-old employee, two of his fellow bandits removed about $800 cash from the register, NYPD officials said. Again, a fourth robber stayed outside as a lookout, police said.

The final robbery took place about 10:30 p.m. when three men walked into a Gulf gas station at 141-50 Union Turnpike, officials said. Yet again, one robber simulated a firearm and demanded cash from a 40-year-old employee, police said.

The robbers emptied the register of roughly $3,000 before running off, along with their lookout who was outside, authorities said.

People with information are asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). They can also submit tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on Twitter @NYPDTips.