NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — At least five mom-and-pop pharmacies have been broken into across the city.

Police say tens of thousands of dollars worth of drugs have been stolen. As CBS2’s Kevin Rincon reported Friday, it’s not the work of a lone burglar.

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The front window is being replaced at the Strand Pharmacy in Astoria, Queens after police say at least two men broke in and stole an estimated $10,000 worth of prescription pills, along with $2,000 in cash.

It happened on April 13.

Not far way, police say four men used a crow bar to smash through a front window at Health Quest RX Pharmacy, but left empty handed.

“They were looking specifically for controlled medication, nothing else,” said a pharmacy employee. “They didn’t take no money or anything. They just wanted narcotics or controlled substances.”

The employee and her boss said just the attempt to steal from them is heartbreaking.

“It’s terrible because we’re trying to pick up the time we lost because of COVID. So, it’s a selfish thing that they did,” Ashley, the employee, said.

“It’s a little absurd. I think that it’s shocking and we were the ones, as health care professionals, to help the community, and if we’re the ones being target now, it’s a big deal,” her boss, Regina, said.

(Credit: NYPD)

They’re not alone.

Police said three men used rocks to break through glass at the Organic Pharmacy in Astoria. They allegedly stole $27,000 worth of pills before fleeing.

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On April 12, cops said three men broke into the Corner Pharmacy in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It’s now been robbed twice, after a group of men smashed through the front window back on March 26.

In both cases, the suspects got away with pills.

“It’s sad. It’s sad what the world is come to because it’s a very nice place out here. It’s family oriented,” one person said.

It wasn’t just pharmacies that were targeted. Police say a group of men tried to rob an ATM inside a check cashing store, too.

“It’s scary, because we’re in Park Slope, Brooklyn. It’s supposed to be one of the safest neighborhoods,” said Margarito Rosario, who works at a dentist’s office nearby.

“I bring my daughter to work with me every morning. So I was kind of scared, and then she gets nervous when she sees cops,” said Michele Vila.

They see what’s happening as indicative of something else.

“This is desperate. People are desperate, the need help,” said Rosario. “This is a cry for help. This is not because people want to be criminals.”

Anyone with information about the suspects is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.

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CBS2’s Kevin Rincon contributed to this report.

Source - https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2021/04/16/pharmacy-burglary-pattern/

 NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – The NYPD wants your help finding two men they say stole a jewelry cart from a building in the Bronx.

An alleged serial bank robber who was arrested earlier this week was slapped with federal charges for two of the heists — including one job where he threatened to kill everyone at a Chase branch in Queens, according to court documents unsealed Friday.

Craig Gernett, 42, was charged with bank robbery in Brooklyn federal court for that theft and another caper at a Queens Citibank earlier this month, according to the criminal complaint against him.

Prosecutors allege Gernett walked into the Court Square Citibank in Long Island City at about 12 p.m. on May 6 and handed a teller a robbery note, the complaint states.

“No die (sic) packs. No GPS. No bait money, make it fast put all the money you have in the drawer in envelopes this is not a joke. I have 2 people outside. I have a gun,” the note read.

The note Craig Gernett allegedly wrote before sticking up the bank.
The note Craig Gernett allegedly wrote before sticking up one of the banks.
Court documents
The teller forked over $1,115 and Gernett allegedly walked away with the cash, prosecutors allege.

On May 11, Gernett allegedly struck again, hitting a Chase bank on nearby Queens Plaza South, the complaint states.

He handed a teller a robbery note, who responded by asking “what is that,” according to prosecutors.

In the robbery, Craig Gernett came away with $1,115.
In the May 6 robbery, Craig Gernett came away with $1,115.
DCPI
“Are you kidding me, this is a robbery!” Gernett responded.

“I will kill everyone in here, pull from the second drawer,” he said.

The Post previously reported Gernett was cut loose from prison in August after serving 10 years for robbing four banks and 11 shops dating back to 2006.

Police believe he went on a robbery spree this month, which included the two Queens robberies, as well as two other bank jobs last week in Manhattan.

Craig Gernett had previously robbed other banks.
Craig Gernett had previously robbed other banks.
DCPI
Craig Gernett allegedly robbed two separate Queens banks this May.
Craig Gernett allegedly robbed two separate Queens banks this May.
Court documents
Prior to his sentencing in 2006, his lawyer at the time said he was a drug addict who was committing robberies to fund his addiction.

“Put simply, Mr. Gernett committed these robberies while on a crack binge … But underlying Mr. Gernett’s substance abuse problem — and, I submit, a cause of his addiction — is a serious mental illness,” his attorney wrote in court papers at the time.



Source - https://nypost.com/2021/05/21/serial-bank-robber-threatened-to-kill-everyone-in-queens-branch-feds/

FORDHAM, Bronx (WABC) -- New video shows a violent jewelry snatching in the Bronx.

A man walked into Bronx Pawn Brokers on Kingsbridge Road in the Fordham section Wednesday at 2:25 p.m. and approached a 71-year-old woman.

He grabbed her by the neck and snatched her necklace.
The robber then ran out and drove off in a black SUV.

The woman suffered cuts to her neck but is expected to be OK.

The necklace was worth about $400.

So far, there are no arrests.
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).

Source - https://abc7ny.com/man-snatches-womans-necklace-off-her-neck-in-bronx-pawnshop/10686708/