18th Avenue deli held up by phony cop, adding to possible pattern in Coney and Bensonhurst

A Bensonhurst deli was held up by a man claiming to be a police officer in the early hours of Tuesday, April 11.

According to a source, the incident – which occurred just before 2 a.m. inside of Gourmet Deli & Grill, 6318 18th Avenue – consisted of the suspect walking into the establishment, stating that he was a police officer and demanding that a 26-year-old employee hand over “all the money.”

The source further said that the suspect, who police believe to be 36-year-old Arcelay Camilo, was last seen by witnesses fleeing on foot empty-handed and westbound down 63rd Street towards 17th Avenue. 62nd Precinct officers who responded to the scene within minutes canvassed the scene and remain on the lookout for the perp, who reports say did not display a gun or badge, but was instead wearing a blue t-shirt with an NYPD patch embroidered on it.

Reports further claim that the perp had his hand in his pocket as if he had a gun, but never showed it.

Police have since connected the incident to a string of four other recent police impersonations that have occurred since Thursday, April 6 in both Bensonhurst and Coney Island.

According to police, the other impersonations took place at Gongs Laundromat (7324 20th Avenue in Bensonhurst) on Thursday, April 6; at Coney Island Food Market Corp. (2901 West 21st Street in Coney Island) on Saturday, April 8; at D Deli & Smoke Shop (6901 New Utrecht Avenue in Bensonhurst) on Sunday, April 9 and at Paksey Associate Grocery (2006 86th Street in Bensonhurst) on Monday, April 10.

In nearly all of the incidents, Camilo is said to have flashed a police patch. During Monday’s incident, the perp is said to have identified himself as a detective and stated that he was there to inspect cigarette tax stamps. He made off with money (his largest haul being $2,500 from the Coney Island grocery store) in all four other incidents.

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