Brooklyn Man Arrested in Ice Cream Shop Robberies

Police say 47-year-old Robert Coston of Brooklyn has been charged with first-degree robbery for 10 armed hold-ups

Police have arrested a man for robbing nearly a dozen ice cream and sandwich shops in Brooklyn during the past month.

Police say 47-year-old Robert Coston of Brooklyn has been charged with first-degree robbery for 10 armed hold-ups. An anonymous Crimestoppers tip led police to Coston, who was arrested on Friday at a New York City motel.

Police say Coston displayed a gun and demanded money at a string of stores, including the same Tasti-D-Lite in Park Slope that he robbed three times. He's also accused of robbing a Blue Marble Ice Cream Restaurant and several Subway Sandwich shops.

He apologized to his victims after nearly every robbery.

As Coston was led from a Brooklyn police station Saturday night, he told reporters he did it to pay for his childrens' tuition, according to the New York Post.

"My sons are in college," he said. "I was looking for work. I couldn't find work."

"I'm very sorry for what I did, though," he said.

The Daily News reports Coston has previous arrests for grand larceny, drug possession, assault, menacing and robbery. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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