Woman nabbed in downtown robbery spree in Rochester

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – A woman is facing several charges, accused of robbing several businesses in the city in one week.

Jessica York, 41, is accused of:

• displaying what appeared to be a handgun at Broth Restaurant inside Sibley Square just after 1 p.m. on Nov. 30 and making off with cash from the register
• displaying what appeared to be a handgun around 7 p.m. on Nov. 30 at Tai Chi Bubble Tea on East Avenue and getting away with money from the register
• robbing Speedy’s Cleaners around 9:30 a.m. Dec. 1 on Scio Street with what appeared to be a handgun before stealing money from the register

Police took York into custody on Franklin Street around 11 a.m. on Dec. 1. They say she had a black realistic-looking BB gun on her. She was charged with three counts of felony second-degree robbery and three counts of misdemeanor petit larceny.

On Dec. 2, around 11 a.m., York was released from the Monroe County Jail. About a half hour later, officers say she robbed the Starbucks inside the Hyatt hotel, threatening to use a weapon, and making off with cash from register.

On Dec. 4 around 1:15 p.m., York allegedly forcibly stole money from the register at Java’s Cafe on Gibbs Street.

Around 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, she is accused of threatening to use a gun while attempting to rob the Ugly Duck on Charlotte Street.

A short time later, she was spotted on East Main Street and taken into custody.

She is expected to be arraigned Wednesday morning on charges of two counts of felony third-degree robbery, two counts of felony fourth-degree grand larceny, and one count of felony third-degree attempted robbery.