Fake Gun Brigands Stick Up Queens Shops, Cops Say

QUEENS, NY — A trio of brigands used a fake gun in back-to-back stick ups in Queens, police said.

The robbers scored $1,000 in the twin heists Sunday that unfolded in less than 20 minutes, authorities said.

The first occurred about 11:00 p.m. when the three men walked into 30-07 39th Avenue, a Long Island City smoke shop near 30th Street, and demanded cash, NYPD officials said.

The trio tried to get behind the counter, but eventually ran off into the 39th Avenue subway station, authorities said.

Fifteen minutes later, the same group stormed into 62-02 Roosevelt Ave., a shop near 62nd Street, flashed a fake gun and took $1,000 in cash from a register behind the counter, police said.

They ran off and remained on the loose as of Wednesday, officials said.

The trio were described by cops as:

• A man about 5 feet 10 inches tall with a black hooded jacket, a black jacket with a gray hooded sweatshirt underneath, black sweatpants, and white sneakers
• A man about 5 feet 7 inches tall who was last seen wearing a black jacket with blue lettering on the front, black sweatpants, and blue and white sneakers.
• And a man who appeared roughly 6 feet tall with a black hooded jacket, black pants, and white sneakers

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 Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, on Twitter @NYPDTips.