A knifepoint robbery in Ronkonkoma Tuesday caught on surveillance camera is being investigated as part of a pattern of robberies in Nassau and Suffolk counties, police say.

The armed robbery happened at a Subway around 8:30 p.m. Police say the robber was caught on camera flashing what they say is a machete, as he demanded money from an employee at the Portion Road location. They say he got away with a few hundred dollars in cash.  

Suffolk Police Commissioner Tim Sini says the man captured on the surveillance video - dressed in black and armed with the large knife - is the same person responsible for a string of similar robberies that have taken place in fast food shops across Nassau and Suffolk counties.

“We are going to do everything we can to capture him so no one else is victimized. This is an individual who is going to continue to steal. He is clearly desperate,” he says

While police say they have plenty of surveillance video of the knife-carrying bandit, they say they are frustrated by the quality of the tapes, which has made it difficult to get an identification.

Officials say they have assigned extra resources to patrol likely targets.

Police are asking shop owners to check their surveillance systems to ensure it can capture an image that would be helpful.

A $10,000 reward is being offering in the case for information leading to an arrest.           

Police are asking anyone with information on the incidents to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS in Suffolk or 1-800-244-TIPS in Nassau.