The victim was punched and threatened with a hatchet outside an Albany Avenue deli.
NEW YORK — Police are searching for three men accused of attacking a 44-year-old man and stealing his 2004 BMW 530i early April 18 outside a deli on Albany Avenue in East Flatbush.
The case moved into a public search this week after investigators released surveillance images of the people wanted in the robbery. Police said the victim suffered minor injuries, refused medical attention and did not go to a hospital. No arrests had been made as of Friday, and authorities had not said whether the BMW had been recovered.
The attack happened about 1:20 a.m. in front of 787 Albany Ave., within the 67th Precinct. Investigators said the man was near his parked BMW when three men walked up to him. All three struck him in the face, and one displayed a hatchet, police said. Moments later, one man got into the BMW and drove away. The other two left the area in a white van. The NYPD described the case as “wanted for a robbery” in a public notice tied to the search.
Police said the suspects are believed to be about 40 years old and between 5 feet, 9 inches and 5 feet, 10 inches tall. One was last seen wearing a gray long-sleeved shirt, blue jeans and gray-and-blue shoes. A second wore a black shirt and gray camouflage shorts. A third wore gray clothing and was described as having a black beard. Investigators said surveillance images showed the three men, with two faces clearly visible.
The robbery unfolded along a busy stretch of East Flatbush, near homes, small businesses and late-night foot traffic. Albany Avenue runs through the neighborhood and connects several residential blocks with commercial corners. The reported use of a hatchet raised the case beyond a vehicle theft into a violent street robbery, though police said the victim’s injuries were minor. Authorities have not released the victim’s name or said whether he knew the attackers.
The investigation remains open. Police have not announced charges because no suspect was in custody Friday. Detectives are expected to use the surveillance images, witness accounts and any nearby camera footage to track the men and the white van. The BMW’s recovery status also remained unclear, leaving investigators with two active questions: where the car went after the robbery and who was driving the van.
The scene described by police was brief but forceful: three men converging near a parked car, a punch to the victim’s face, a hatchet shown during the confrontation and two separate getaway paths. Police said the victim stayed at the scene after the attack and declined medical care. The suspects fled before officers announced any arrests.
The NYPD’s public search was still active Friday, May 1. The next step is the identification of the three men shown in the released images and confirmation of whether the stolen BMW has been found.
Author note: Last updated May 1, 2026.