The NYPD is currently searching for a man wanted in connection with a string of police impersonation robberies in Brooklyn over the past week. The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Arcelay Camilo, is believed to have attempted robberies at four grocery stores and one laundromat, according to cops.

The most recent attempt took place early Tuesday morning at Gourmet Deli Grill on 18th Avenue in Borough Park, police say. The man identified himself as a police officer and kept his hand on his waist, one witness told ABC 7. At first he said that he was investigating a noise complaint, then claimed that he needed to go behind the counter to check for evidence of drugs or loosies.

"He came inside said 'I am NYPD I want to check for [cigarettes],'" Abdulrahman Muthana, the store clerk on duty told PIX11. "I forget to tell him let me see proof of ID and he showed me his [shirt] that said NYPD. I called my friends to help me because I am by myself."

When an employee asked to see identification, the man took off on foot. Surveillance video from the incident show him behind the counter.

The man believed to be Camilo has successfully robbed four businesses within the previous five days, police say. In each of those instances, the suspect claimed to be checking tax stamps on cigarettes, before explaining that he needed to take the cash drawers back to the precinct.

NYPD is looking for this man who impersonated a police officer and tried to rob a Bensonhurst on 18th Ave this morning. @ABC7NY pic.twitter.com/ejlwN8Ywuu — Candace McCowan (@CandaceMcCowan7) April 11, 2017

According to cops, he took $300, a wallet and cigarettes from Gongs Laundromat in Bensonhurst on Thursday; about $2,500 from Coney Island Food Market on Saturday; nine cigarette packs and $1,000 from D Deli and Smoke Shop in Dyker Heights on Sunday; and about $500 from Paksey Associate Grocery in Bath Beach on Monday.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577.



