Robber of 7-Eleven in West Hempstead wore Halloween mask

The robber wore a Halloween mask.

Now, Nassau County police are searching for the suspect who they said robbed a 7-Eleven in West Hempstead at gunpoint on Sunday, using zip-ties to bind one of the four employees in the store — while he stole cash and a carton of cigarettes.

The suspect in the 7:51 p.m. robbery at the Hempstead Turnpike store wore dark-colored clothing, blue jeans and “a white hard Halloween face mask.” Police could not immediately give further description of that mask.

They said the suspect, who was armed with a handgun, also wore blue latex gloves.

The suspect used zip-ties top secure one employee, while ordering a second employee to open the register. He then stole cash and the cigarettes, before fleeing on foot, police said.

Police are asking anyone with information regarding the robbery 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.”