Smoke Shop Clerks Subdue Man In Failed Massapequa Robbery: PD

MASSAPEQUA, NY —Two sales clerks from a Massapequa smoke and vape shop subdued a 24-year-old Queens man who tried to rob them on Wednesday, Nassau County police said.

Police said that at about 6:18 p.m. Ali Saif, of 109-15 116th St., went inside Laxmi Smoke and Vape Shop on Merrick Road and tried to buy a large amount of cigarettes and “numerous smoking accessories” with a credit card. When a sales clerk asked for Saif for identification, he tried to pay with his cellular phone, which was declined, police said.

Saif then picked up the goods and attempted to leave the store without making a payment, but the clerk was joined by a colleague who helped confront him and “a physical altercation ensued,” police said.

The two clerks were able to subdue Saif until officers arrived, but they were both injured, according to police. They were transported to an area hospital for “treatment and evaluation,” police said.

Saif is charged with two counts of second-degree robbery, a felony, police said. Police said Saif has an open warrant for his arrest in Connecticut for the “illegal use of a payment card.”

He will be arraigned on Thursday in Mineola.