A shoplifting incident in Queens took a violent turn last month when a shoplifter allegedly punched a teen worker in the face with brass knuckles as he and two accomplices were being kicked out of a store, police reported on Thursday.
The attack occurred on the evening of July 25 around 9 p.m. at a business located at 88-01 Queens Blvd. The 18-year-old employee was trying to escort the three suspects out of the store when one of them suddenly struck him in the face with brass knuckles, according to police. The blow chipped the worker’s tooth, though fortunately, he did not require hospitalization.
After the assault, the suspects managed to steal office equipment before fleeing the scene, police said. As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
The area where the attack took place is under the jurisdiction of the NYPD’s 110th Precinct, where both robberies and misdemeanor assaults have reportedly increased this year compared to 2023, according to NYPD data.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the suspects or the incident to come forward. Tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) and entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking individuals can also call 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) to provide information.
The incident highlights a troubling trend of rising crime in the area, underscoring the need for vigilance and community cooperation to help law enforcement address such issues.