The hunt is on for a masked man who police say hijacked an armored van in Brooklyn and made off with $500,000 in cash.
The crime happened Thursday morning as the armored car was parked outside a check cashing store in the Canarsie neighborhood.
A driver in this armored truck was robbed Thursday when his co-worker was in a store. The thief, thought to be armed, made off with $500,000 and the authorities are still hunting for him. An armored truck from this same company was robbed in 2011 in the Bronx. (Image via WPIX-TV video screenshot)
Police say the robber knocked on the van's door and pulled a gun on the driver when he opened it, initially thinking it was his co-worker. He then ordered the driver, whose partner was still inside the store, to drive off.
After a few blocks, police say the gunman grabbed a duffel bag containing money and fled.
WNBC-TV reported the suspect used mace on the driver before running off. The driver reportedly fire shots after the man.
The suspect is described as a black male in his 20s, short in stature and wearing all black.
The NYPD and the FBI are investigating the incident, including whether it could be connected to a similar 2011 robbery of an armored vehicle owned by the same company in the Bronx.
Watch WPIX-TV's report about the incident:
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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