The Putnam Examiner

Patterson Convenience Store Robbed, Leads to Manhunt

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Betzi’s Mini Mart located on Center Street in Patterson was robbed last week.
Betzi’s Mini Mart located on Center Street in Patterson was robbed last week.

The town of Patterson heard sirens blaring and saw bright lights blazing Wednesday night after a convenience store in the center of town was robbed by an alleged masked man.

Authorities are seeking help from the public to find the perpetrator that entered Betzi’s Mini Mart located on Center Street in town and took an undisclosed sum of money after showing a handgun, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. No one was injured in the robbery.

The man was reportedly wearing a black hooded jacket, dark pants and a white mask, according to the sheriff’s release. A witness, the sheriff’s office said, stated the suspect got into a small automobile, though the make and model are unknown at this time. He allegedly drove away on Route 311 with his headlights off and was last seen turning onto Route 292.

One Patterson resident, who witnessed some of the aftermath, was Andy Falk who said he had just left a town hall meeting when a sheriff deputy approached him and a couple of other residents to ask if they saw a man in a mask drive by and then another deputy asked some time after. In between, two New York State Police cars also came through and asked the same question, but Falk and the other residents hadn’t seen anything.

As Falk was going home and making a left on Route 311, he saw all of Front Street and South Street was blocked off by a deputies with an assault rifles.

“I hope they catch this guy and I hope it turns out that he’s not from here,” Falk, who happens to be running for town supervisor, said.

Anyone with information can contact the sheriff’s office at 845-225-4300. All calls are kept confidential.

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