Police are searching for a suspect they believe is behind multiple robberies at smoke shops across the city.

Surveillance footage obtained by News 12 shows the moment that suspect walked into a Bruckner Boulevard smoke shop pretending to have a gun. Later, that suspect escaped with $200.

"It's not easy when they got their own place that they're trying survive, as we're trying to survive. They have the right, too," said resident Egle Vargas.

Police say the suspect is also connected to two other robberies across the city, one of which he got away with, nearly $500, at an Upper West Side smoke shop.

For all three robberies, police say the suspect used the same tactic. "It's getting worse every day, it's not safe for no one to come outside, no where in the five boroughs, no where at all," a resident tells News 12.

Police say the suspect is still on the run and encourages anyone who has information that can lead to an arrest to call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.