Police

Cops: Another armed robbery in downtown Riverhead

Uncle Joe's pizzeria was robbed at gunpoint Tuesday night. (Credit: Grant Parpan)
Uncle Joe’s pizzeria was robbed at gunpoint Tuesday night. (Credit: Grant Parpan)

For the second time this week, a man has entered a downtown Riverhead business with a gun and left with cash, town police said. 

At about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday night police responded to Uncle Joe’s Pizzeria on West Main Street for a report of a robbery. Employees said an unknown black male — described as 6-foot-2 with a black hooded jacket, dark colored pants and a bandana covering his face – pointed a handgun at an employee and demanded money. He then fled the area on foot.

Police declined to say how much cash the suspect made off with or if there was any connection to a robbery at neighboring Barth’s Drug Store Friday afternoon. Suffolk County Crime Stoppers announced Wednesday morning that a $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest in the drug store incident by calling 800-220-TIPS.

News of the robberies had downtown business owners concerned Tuesday night.

“I’ve been here 20 years and I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Ken Loo, owner of the nearby Hy-Ting and Haiku restaurants as he walked by Uncle Joe’s about two hours after the reported robbery. “We’re all a little shaken.”

Anyone with information about Tuesday night’s robbery is asked to contact the Riverhead Police Department at (631) 727-4500.