Shoplifters beat clerk, threaten with knife in gas station robbery

By Dan Gesslein

Cops are looking for four men who beat one convenience store clerk and threatened another one with a knife when they tried to stop the group from shoplifting.

At around 11:30 am on May 18, four men entered the convenience store at a gas station on Jerome Avenue, across from Van Cortlandt Park. Cops say the group tried to exit the store with merchandise without paying. When the workers tried to stop them, the group pounced.

One of the shoplifters threw a bottle at the 33-yearold clerk. They then bum rushed the clerk and another 49-year-old worker. One of the attackers placed the 33-year-old clerk in a chokehold. Another in the group pulled out a knife and threatened the 49-year-old worker with it.

Then the group went rampaging through the store damaging shelves and merchandise. The shoplifters then ran out of the store and drove off in a white BMW toward Van Cortlandt Avenue East.

The 33-year-old worker was rushed to Montefiore Medical Center where he was treated for a broken thumb as well as bruises to his head and body. The 49-year-old worker sustained bruises to his body and his head.

Police released surveil- lance video of the suspects who were caught on camera without wearing a mask or trying to hide their identity.

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

All calls are strictly confidential.