Armed Crooks Pistol Whip, Rob Upper West Side Smoke Shop: Police

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — A group of armed crooks pistol-whipped a store worker and made off with cash, cannabis and a backpack, police said.

At about 1:40 a.m., four men entered a West 108th Street smoke shop and immediately started searching the pockets of a store clerk, police said.

As one robber took out the man's credit cards and a cell phone, another came up and pistol whipped the clerk and pulled out a knife, according to an NYPD spokesperson.

Two of the other crooks grabbed cash and cannabis from the store, as well as a MCM backpack, officials said.

According to police, all four robbers fled towards Riverside Park, and police later picked up two people of interest.

Officials couldn't confirm if charges have been filed or if the individuals were still in custody.

The store clerk was treated for his injuries at the scene, police 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.