Robbers hit doughnut shop, pharmacy, salon

Robberies aren't exactly what one thinks of when it comes to Riverdale and Kingsbridge, but the communities were rocked with three of them Thursday, hitting a doughnut shop, a pharmacy and even a beauty salon.

It all started before sunrise at 3:30 a.m., when a man police described as heavyset, wearing a green army jacket, black top and black pants — all while hoisting a brown satchel — reportedly robbed the Dunkin' Donuts at 209 W. 231st St. 

After sticking up the doughnut shop, the man reportedly ran into a nearby housing development toward West 230th Street, police said. There were no injuries, and it's not clear how much money the robber took.

Later, a little before 10 a.m., a man walked into DJ Drugs & Surgical at 3721 Riverdale Ave., and robbed the employees there. The man, described by police as 5-foot-9, hopped into a gray or green Jeep with New York plates D1148.

Then, just around lunchtime Thursday, Park Terrace Unisex Salon at 3505 Riverdale Ave. — just down the street from DJ Drugs — was hit by a man described as chubby, wearing glasses and a dark T-shirt. He, too, fled in a Jeep, said to be a dark color, with plates HSN2748, toward West 236th Street — and the Yonkers city line. 

Terence O'Toole, commanding officer of the 50th Precinct, told The Riverdale Press he suspects the beauty salon robber might be the same man who struck Kidville last month, making off with $115.

Park Terrace owner Stella Pantazopolous tells The Press that being a victim in this latest crime wave is "awful."

"We were here for so many years, and nothing like that happened," Pantazopolous said of the 25-year-old salon. "Now we feel very unsafe. Not only for us, but for our clients, also."

What's even more shocking is that such a crime took place in broad daylight, in the middle of a Thursday lunch rush. That has prompted Pantazopolous to now install cameras and keep the doors locked. 

Police have released new information as of early Thursday evening on the man they are seeking in connection with the DJ Drugs robbery, including some security images of a man they are describing only as "white Hispanic."

A man came into DJ Drugs at 9:30 a.m., on Thursday, with his hand inside of a backpack, simulating a firearm, according to the police-issued poster. He told an employee "I don't want any trouble, just give me the money," and ran out the door with $90 cash. 

He then ran out the door, heading east on West 238th Street toward Waldo Avenue.

Anyone with information on these incidents can call the New York Police Department's Crime Stoppers hotline at (800) 577-8477, or submit tips online by visiting NYPDCrimeStoppers.com. They also can text tips to 274637, and then entering "TIP577."

All calls, police say, are strictly confidential.

This story was updated at 7:30 p.m., to include information and images of one of the suspects in the robberies.