Crooks Rob $3K From UWS Newsstand: NYPD

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — A team of crooks tricked an Upper West Side newsstand worker into leaving his post and stole at least $3,000 in cash from his register, according to police.

The bait-and-switch unfolded Thursday about 6:30 p.m. when two men walked up to a newsstand on the northeast corner of Columbus Avenue and West 81st Street, officials said.

One of the men began to steal items from the front of the stand, police said, prompting the newsstand operator to dash out and confront the robber.

With the worker distracted, the other crook ran inside the newsstand and pilfered at least $3,000 in cash from the register, officials said.

The robbers then pushed the newsstand worker in the chest before running north on Columbus Avenue, police said.

Officials said the victim refused medical attention by first responders at the scene.

There was no description of the suspects as of Friday morning, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).