The NYPD is seeking assistance from the public in identifying two suspects wanted for robbing an Upper West Side smoke shop earlier this week.
The incident took place on Monday, November 21 at about 1:30 p.m. at Exotic Smoke Shop, located at 483 Columbus Avenue between 83rd and 84th streets.
After entering the store and inquiring about different products, one of the individuals displayed a firearm at a 21-year-old male employee while the second individual removed merchandise valued at a total of approximately $390. The individuals fled the location on foot in an unknown direction. The store employee did not sustain any injuries.
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Surveillance photos and video were obtained at the incident location.
Exotic Smoke Shop was also targeted during its late August grand opening.
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Anyone with information about 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). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website or by sending a direct message to @NYPDTips on Twitter. All calls are strictly confidential.
How come the school across the street was not notified and put on lockdown?
I’m not a policeman but I’m pretty sure (a) lockdown of nearby schools is only necessitated by the actual firing of a gun in the commission of a crime and (b) local police precinct has jurisdiction as to ordering the lockdown even if gunshots were fired or heard to be fired.
The captain or precinct commander retains the right to go either way based on his or her
assessment of the danger posed, the time of day, i.e. how close the incident is to arrival or departure times, and if the perpetrators are still believed to be in the vicinity. In other words, we should not assume that lockdown is an automatic act upon hearing about a robbery with a firearm or any other major crime. Point being: school authorities could have been notified and a lockdown was not determined to be in anyone’s best interest.
It seems like UWS smoke shops get robbed a lot lately. I wonder why.
Because they have cash. When they’re allowed to bank legally there will be no more incentive to rob a smoke shop than a book store. Remove marijuana from federal Schedule 1 where it obviously does not belong.
Thanks. They aren’t allowed to bank legally? What does that mean?
Honestly I can’t speak for these shops in particular but nationally the marijuana business is prevented because of federal law from accessing the banking and credit systems so even in states where it’s legal they have a lot of cash around. Does this smoke shop take credit cards?
Thanks. Very interesting.
Shut these shops down, they’re going to ruin the neighborhood and ruin property values. Additionally, they are unsafe and there is a school and families in the area
Except for the fact that that hasn’t happened, you’d be right. Maybe if you keep wishing for it.