The New York Police department is looking for a gang of thieves who have been tearing around the Bronx and Manhattan and snatching thousands of dollars in jewelry off of unsuspecting pedestrians.
Five crimes fitting the same description occurred across the two boroughs in broad daylight between March 18 and April 17.
The first crime happened on March 18 at 12:38pm in the afternoon. A pair of men on a black motor scooter rode up to a 47-year-old male on East Fordham Road in Fordham Heights in the Bronx. The thieves snagged an $8,000 gold chain from the victim’s neck before riding off, according to police.
The NYPD is hunting for a gang of scooter-riding thugs who have been rolling up on New Yorkers and snatching jewelry from their necks in broad daylight in the Bronx and Manhattan
Around 20 minutes later, a 42-year-old man on West 181st Street in Washington heights was robbed by a man on a black scooter. The suspect brandished a gun at the victim, then grabbed $10,000 in gold chains from around the victim’s neck.
Two days later on March 20, a man on a black scooter stole a pair of gold chains worth $500 from a 30-year-old woman in on East Fordham Road in Fordham Heights again.
The suspects have been reported to be riding black scooters, and dressed in all black clothing
One suspect, pictured above, in black clothing and riding a blue scooter. The thieves have been seen riding alone or with two men on a scooter
The next day on March 21, a 30-year-old man on West 181st Street in Washington Heights had a pair of gold chains worth $2,000 snagged by a thief who rode up to him on black scooter.
Footage from the robbery released by the NYPD shows the victim crossing the street at a crosswalk. As he reaches the opposite curb, a man on a scooter rolls up off the street onto the sidewalk in front of him, where he quickly grabs the jewelry and rides off. The victim chases after the suspect and disappears off camera.
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On March 23, a man riding a black scooter snatched $6,000 in gold chains from a 62-year-old man in the Bronx at 1:30pm in the afternoon, and on April 17 a suspect matching the same description took $4,000 in gold chains off of a 46-year-old man in the Bronx at 11:30am.
All victims reported their attackers wearing black clothing, according to the NYPD.
Security footage shows three individuals crossing a street (victim, far right). The thief can be seen rolling up along the street on a motor-scooter (left, to the left of the mailbox)
The suspect swings across the path of the pedestrians who have just crossed the street
The suspect snatches a gold chain from around the neck of the individual on the far right. The suspect then drives off out of frame, and the victim attempts to pursue
Meanwhile, crime continues to soar in New York City as police recorded a 41% percent spike this year compared to the same period in 2021.
So far this year, NYC has seen 8,130 felony assaults, a nearly 20 percent increase from last year, 495 shooting victims, 543 rapes, and 5,453 robberies.
The NYPD also reported 138 murders this year, a 13.8% percent drop from last year.
Stabbings and slashings on NYC transit are up 70% compared to last year.
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