The NYPD believes an armed robbery that took place at a Long Island pharmacy Monday night might be the work of the same gang of crooks who have been knocking over stores in Queens.
At 3:40 a.m. three men wearing ski-masks and brandishing guns robbed the CVS in Port Jefferson. The thieves cleared the pharmacy shelves of pharmaceuticals and sped away. Witnesses say Long Island cops gave chase through Nassau County but ended up losing the getaway car when it raced into Queens.
Detectives investigating crimes in South Ozone Park and Richmond Hill, Queens, said the M.O. of the CVS crooks mirror those of the suspects wanted for robbing a Walgreens on March 7 and another CVS on March 11.
The robberies have all been committed in the same way: The men enter the building with masked faces and firearms out. They order the store employees to the rear of the store and then empty the shelves of drugs into a backpack before fleeing the scene.
Two of the suspects are believed to be Hispanic; the race of the third suspect is unknown.
If the suspects can be linked to similar pharmacy robberies in New Jersey the FBI will get involved in the investigation due to state lines being crossed.
No injuries have been reported in the robberies.
If anyone has information on the suspects' police ask you to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers line at 800-577-TIPS.
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