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Tasti D-Lite Bandit Caught, Says He Needed Money For Kids' College
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 25, 2012
Modified Nov 25, 2012
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By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 25, 2012
Modified Nov 25, 2012
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The suspect in a series of Brooklyn robberies, targeting Tasti D-Lite, Subway and other retail establishments, has been caught. According to the police, Robert Coston, 47, was arrested on Friday at a Brooklyn motel after the NYPD received an anonymous Crimestoppers tip.
Police, who released multiples videos of the suspect, say the tipster contacted Crimestoppers on Wednesday, identifying the suspect as Coston: "Detectives from the Robbery Squad conducted a photo array with a victim from one of the robberies and Robert Coston, a M/B/47, was identified as the suspect. Detectives immediately started to canvass areas that the suspect was known to frequent." They found him at the Linden Motor Inn and later charged him with 10 of the 12 robberies.
Coston told reporters, "My sons are in college. I was looking for work. I couldn’t find work. I’m very sorry for what I did, though." And one of his victims, Tasti D-Lite owner Mayer Levy, said the bandit was calm and apologetic, "He said, ‘I’m sorry. I hate to do this. I have a family to feed.'"
1533-12 BRS CW pattern 30 2nd release from Gothamist on Vimeo.
Coston was charged with 10 counts of robbery in the first degree for the following incidents:
Incident# 1: On Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at approximately 2150 hours inside the Tasti-D-Lite Restaurant located at 339 7 Avenue within the confines of the 78 Precinct, the suspect approached the male victim and demanded money. The victim complied, and the suspect fled the location.
Incident# 2: On Monday, October 22, 2012 at approximately 2015 hours inside Blue Marble Ice Cream Restaurant located at 196 Court Street within the confines of the 76 Precinct, the suspect approached the male victim and demanded money. The victim complied, and the suspect fled the location.
Incident# 3: On Friday, October 26, 2012 at approximately 2000 hours inside Tasti-D-Lite Restaurant located at 339 7 Avenue within the confines of the 78 Precinct, the suspect approached the male victim and demanded money. The victim complied, and the suspect fled the location.
Incident# 4: On Sunday, October 28, 2012 at approximately 1515 hours inside the Subway Restaurant located at 216 Atlantic Avenue within the confines of the 84 Precinct, the suspect approached the male victim and demanded money. The victim complied, and the suspect fled the location.
Incident# 5: On Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at approximately 1240 hours inside the Subway Restaurant located at 713 Fulton Street within the confines of the 88 Precinct, the suspect approached the male victim and demanded money. The suspect fled the location without money.
#6: On Friday, October 26, 2012 at 1957 hours the suspect, armed with a gun, entered the store located at 409 7 Avenue, within the confines of the 78 Precinct, and demanded money. The victim complied and the suspect fled with an undetermined amount of money. There were no reported injuries.
#7: On Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at 1607 hours the suspect, armed with a gun, entered the store located at 409 7 Avenue, within the confines of the 78 Precinct, and demanded money. The victim complied and the suspect fled with an undetermined amount of money. There were no reported injuries.
#9: On Friday, November 2, 2012 at 1822 hours the suspect, armed with a gun, entered the Subway located at 216 Atlantic Avenue, within the confines of the 84 Precinct, and demanded money. The victim complied and the suspect fled with an undetermined amount of money. There were no reported injuries. There were no reported injuries.
#10: On Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 1645 hours the suspect, armed with a gun, entered 649 Vanderbilt Avenue, within the confines of the 77 Precinct, and demanded money. The victim complied and the suspect fled with an undetermined amount of money. There were no reported injuries. There were no reported injuries.
#11: On Sunday, November 4, 2012 at 1810 hours the suspect, armed with a gun, entered the yogurt store located at 339 7 Avenue, within the confines of the 78 Precinct, and demanded money. The victim complied and the suspect fled with an undetermined amount of money. There were no reported injuries. There were no reported injuries.
Tagged
arrest
robbery
robbery pattern
subway restaurant
tasti d-lite
tasti d-lite bandit
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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