Police are investigating a brazen Pelham Bay deli robbery believed to be the work of a pair of crooks on a crime spree.

The owner of Middletown Deli at 2902 Middletown Rd. says two armed men wearing ski masks barged into his store Wednesday before midnight as he was preparing to close. Shaaib Mohsan says the men, one short and one tall, took him and a customer to the back of the store where they robbed the customer. The robbers cleaned out a register before making their escape. Mohsan says he's in shock that his livelihood was threatened, but thankful his life was spared.

Detectives are using surveillance video from the scene, and say the duo may be responsible for robbing nine food stores since Christmas. Officers found a ski mask outside the deli that may belong to one of the men. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.