Old Bethpage 7-Eleven clerk attack, held up, police say

Police on Wednesday released a surveillance photo of a suspect who they said held up a 7-Eleven in Old Bethpage early Sunday, slashing an employee in the neck and arm.

The release of the photo comes as the department continues “intensified patrols” of late-night convenience stores in response to the attack. The masked robber is shown in the image wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt and gloves.

Nassau County police said the robber entered the 7-Eleven on Old Bethpage Road at about 2:20 a.m. Sunday, stealing cash. The robber also cut the 25-year-old male store clerk on the neck and both arms before fleeing, police said.

The clerk was treated at a hospital and released.

After the robbery, Det. Lt. Richard LeBrun said police had stepped up patrols of convenience stores — and said police would speak with employees of those stores to remind them of precautionary procedures in an effort to help them protect themselves.

A police spokesman said Wednesday officers have continued with the patrols in an effort to both protect store workers and to locate a suspect.

Police are asking anyone with information about the robbery or the suspect to call Crime Stoppers at 800-244-TIPS.

All calls will remain confidential.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”