Armed robber targets six local shops

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It was a quiet Sunday afternoon at the European Wax Center at 3550 Johnson Ave. when a roughly 5-foot-11 white male approached the counter where Amanda Norberto worked greeting customers.

According to surveillance video from Oct. 4, the man, whose face was concealed from the camera by a hat, sidled up to the counter and quickly pulled a silver handgun from the front pocket of his sweatshirt.

He then told Ms. Norberto, 18, “Don’t push any buttons,” according to store owner Maxine Votta.

The robber then snatched about $300 in cash out of the register and fled the scene, telling Ms. Noberto not to make any calls for 10 minutes and adding that he knows who she is.

“Afterwards, I just felt really nauseous,” Ms. Norberto recalled. “The whole thing went so quick, but at the time, it felt longer.”

Police identified the man using surveillance footage and arrested him after an Oct. 7 robbery at the 5671 Riverdale Ave. CitiBank. They believe along with the Wax Center and the bank, he robbed four other Riverdale locations — Riverdale Pharmacy, located at 5669 Riverdale Ave., on Sept. 7; Henry Hudson Pharmacy, at 5700 Mosholu Ave., on Sept. 29; a Verizon Wireless Store, at 5909 Riverdale Ave., on Sept. 30; and a Western Union on Broadway, on Oct. 1.

“Last week, a store got hit almost everyday,” Capt. Terence O’Toole, the commanding officer of the 50th Precinct, said on Oct. 8.

The robbery streak took an unexpected turn when police found a fake bomb in the 5993 Riverdale Ave. apartment of the suspect, whose name was withheld on grounds that the investigation is ongoing).

Capt. O’Toole said since some of the robberies targeted businesses involved in interstate commerce, the Hobbs Act puts the case under federal investigation.

“The Hobbs Act team was activated. We call them the Spartan Team in New York,” Capt. O’Toole said. “They are under the jurisdiction of the Assistant U.S. Attorney.”

robbery, European Wax Center, CitiBank, Riverdale Pharmacy, Henry Hudson Pharmacy, Verizon Wireless Store, Capt. Terence O'Toole, Anthony Capote
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