Police released images after three men allegedly attacked the car owner.
NEW YORK — A 44-year-old man was punched and threatened with a hatchet before his BMW was stolen outside an East Flatbush deli on April 18, police said.
The reported robbery has become a search for three men seen in surveillance images released by police. Investigators said one suspect drove away in the victim’s 2004 BMW 530i while two others fled in a white van. The victim had minor injuries and refused medical treatment. Police had not reported an arrest by Friday.
Authorities said the attack happened around 1:20 a.m. in front of 787 Albany Ave. The man was near his parked car when the group approached. Police said all three men hit him in the face before one of them pulled out a hatchet. “Wanted for a robbery,” the NYPD said in its public notice, naming the location as part of the 67th Precinct. The attack ended within moments, with the BMW and van leaving the area.
The descriptions released by police gave detectives several points to check against surveillance video. One suspect was described as about 5 feet, 9 inches tall and 180 pounds, with a medium build, bald head and brown eyes. He wore a gray long-sleeved shirt, blue jeans and gray-and-blue shoes. A second was described as about 5 feet, 10 inches tall and 160 pounds, with a slim build, dark complexion and brown eyes. He wore a black shirt and gray camouflage shorts. A third was described as about 5 feet, 10 inches tall and 160 pounds, with a medium build, black beard and brown eyes. He wore gray clothing.
The robbery happened in a neighborhood where many blocks mix homes, stores and late-night businesses. Police did not say whether the deli was open at the time or whether the victim had just arrived or was preparing to leave. Officials also did not say whether the suspects followed the man, waited near the block or arrived in the white van before the attack.
No court case had begun Friday because no arrests had been announced. If suspects are identified, detectives would first seek to connect them to the assault, the hatchet threat, the stolen BMW and the van used in the getaway. Police have not released a license plate for the van or said whether the BMW’s plates were captured on camera after the robbery.
The victim’s injuries were described as minor, but the use of a hatchet made the case a violent robbery investigation. Police said the man did not go to the hospital. The NYPD has not released his name, a common step when a victim is not accused of a crime. Investigators also have not said whether anything besides the BMW was taken.
The case remained open Friday, May 1, with police still seeking the three men and the stolen vehicle’s status unresolved.
Author note: Last updated May 1, 2026.