Crook cleans out East Village laundromat

A robber took a First Ave. landromat to the cleaners, emptying the place’s cash register, police said.

According to cops, on Mon., July 16, around 9:15 a.m., a man approached the 32-year-old female employee inside New Phoenix Laundromat & Cleaners at 199 First Ave., between 12th and 13th Sts. He demanded money from the register.

A surveillance video shows that the victim grabbed a screwdriver to defend herself but the crook, after some effort, wrested it away from her. He then swiped about $250 in cash from the register.

The man menaced the woman with the screwdriver a bit, driving her further back into the store, so that he could make a clean getaway. He returned the tool to a shelf, closed the register drawer and fled in an unknown direction.

The robber wore a black cap, a black mask, a black shirt, gray sweatpants and white sneakers.

Police ask that anyone with information call the N.Y.P.D.’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Tips can also be submitted on the Crime Stoppers Web site at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org or on Twitter @NYPDTips. All tips are strictly confidential.