A masked man stole more than $200 from a Williston Park Dunkin’ Donuts store in two knifepoint robberies within a week, store employees said.
Nassau County police said they are working to determine whether the same culprit perpetrated both crimes, but the clerk who was in the store for both of them said it was the same man.
The robber, described as a white man, first entered the store at 276 Hillside Ave. at 10:30 p.m. on April 8, police said.
The clerk, Masum Miaha of Queens, said the man looked like a normal customer when he came in that night as Miaha was mopping the floor.
Police said he was wearing light-colored gloves and a light-colored surgical mask on his face.
The robber came up to the register and ordered a jelly donut, Miaha said. As he turned around to get the donut, the man put a bag on the counter with a knife sticking out though the bottom, Miaha said.
The robber ordered Miaha to open the register and took $165, store manager Ramesh Rasaratnam said. He then left and ran west on Hillside Avenue.
The man came again at 8:32 p.m. Wednesday, wearing a white-hooded sweatshirt and dark jeans, police said.
Miaha said the same thing happened — the robber held a knife up to him and ordered him to open the register.
The robber took $61 and fled westbound on Hillside Avenue, said Rasaratnam, also of Queens.
Police said the robber is heavy-set and between 5-foot-10 and 6 feet tall.
No customers were in the store for either robbery, police said, and Miaha was not hurt.
Miaha said he was not scared during either robbery.
The police were helpful when they responded after both crimes, Rasaratnam said.
Police said the Williston Park crimes are unrelated to a string of 10 knifepoint commercial robberies, including one at a North New Hyde Park Dunkin’ Donuts.
Police raised the reward on Thursday for information leading to the arrest of the suspect in those robberies from $5,000 to $10,000.
“If they (residents) pull up to any establishment or if they’re going to enter any establishment at night or during the day, take a moment, look around,” said Detective Lt. Richard LeBrun, commanding officer of the police department’s Public Information Office.
Police have dedicated a “significant amount of resources” to catching the person, described as a black man, who robbed the 2062 Lakeville Road store March 1 and has since hit nine other businesses, including Dunkin’ Donuts, 7-Eleven, Subway and Carvel, LeBrun said.
The man, between ages 25 and 30, wears a mask and usually looks to make sure no customers are in the store before entering, LeBrun said.
After entering, he takes out a large knife, demands money and runs from the scene on foot, police said.
He likely targets these businesses because they are illuminated at night and he can easily see in and out, LeBrun said.
Police said the crimes occur between 9 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. No one has been hurt, LeBrun said.
The robber is six feet tall and weighs 170 pounds, police said. He usually wears a dark-colored hooded jacket, sunglasses, gloves, baggy blue jeans and a dark-colored scarf or bandana over the lower part of his face.
Anyone with information about any of the crimes can call 1-800-244-8477 to leave an anonymous tip.
