An armed robber turned a peaceful time at an Upper East Side day spa into a frightening ordeal Wednesday evening when he stormed the shop and demanded employees hand over the cash at knifepoint, turning the Lenox Hill business into a crime scene.
Police say the masked robbery suspect walked into the Mei Flower Spa at 346 East 59th Street, near the corner of First Avenue and the new Trader Joe’s supermarket, around 9:00 Wednesday night. Once inside, the suspect brandished a knife and ordered spa workers to empty the cash register, detectives say.
ALSO READ | Crackdown on Smoke Shop & THC Bakery Near UES Schools Has No Impact on Unlicensed Weed Sales
Employees of the UES day spa, which specializes in Swedish massages and foot rubs, complied with the crook’s demands, police say, adding that the violent thief escaped with $300 cash, fleeing east on East 59th Street.
Thankfully, no one was injured during the knifepoint robbery that unfolded Wednesday night. However, police have not made any arrests and say the armed suspect is still on the loose.
ALSO READ | Man Beaten Bloody in Brutal UES Subway Assault: NYPD
Through last Sunday, the number of robberies on the Upper East Side plummeted nearly 25% this year compared to the previous year, with twenty fewer robberies in 2023, according to NYPD crime reporting data.
If you witnessed the day spa robbery or have any information that could help investigators, Please call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-8477.
