Police hunting suspects in string of armed robberies in Queens

JAMAICA (WABC) -- Police are looking for two men responsible for at least three commercial robberies at gunpoint this year in Queens.

The first was on January 1, when the suspects entered a Subway restaurant on Merrick Boulevard in Jamaica, put a gun to a victim's head and fled with $500.

Two days later, police say, the two entered a gas station on Horace Harding Expressway in Flushing, displayed a gun and took $500. Both were wearing masks and gloves.

In the most recent robbery, on March 17, police say the two entered a Subway restaurant on North Conduit Avenue in Springfield Gardens, displayed a handgun and demanded for the safe to be opened.

In surveillance video, the men are seen going behind the counter and demanding receipts. The owner and his worker put up a struggle. The owner ran out for help, and the robbers took off empty-handed.

"He grabbed us and said to go to the front and open the register. I told him I cannot do it," said restaurant owner Fred Korori. "I saw an opportunity so I ran away from the store to get help outside. It was dark, like a ghost town. Everybody was inside at the shopping center."

No injuries were reported in any of the incidents. All the holdups were right around closing time.

The suspects are described as 5'9"-6'2", 190-230 lbs. wearing masks, dark clothing and displaying a firearm in all three incidents.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS.

The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Website at http://WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or texting their tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.