Sticky-fingered thieves are sought for a series of unsolved grand larceny cases across Queens that the NYPD announced over the last two days.
Two of the incidents involved property theft, such as a cellphone swiped from a pedestrian in Long Island City and clothes stolen from an Astoria store. Another involved a purse theft from an Ozone Park beauty salon that led to credit card fraud.
Phone thief strikes on a Long Island City street
A man snatched a cellphone out of the hand of a woman who was walking on Jackson Avenue near 47th Road at about 10:30 p.m. on May 25.
According to police, the crook — identified as a Hispanic male standing 5 foot 11 inches tall, weighing 180 pounds, with short hair and wearing light-colored shorts, a light-colored T-shirt and black sneakers — asked the woman for a cigarette; the victim replied that she didn’t have one.
Then, authorities said, the bandit grabbed the woman’s phone out of her hand and fled into the nearby Vernon Boulevard-Jackson Avenue. He was last observed boarding a Flushing-bound 7 train.
Shoplifters get a five-finger discount in Astoria
Two women stole more than $1,000 in children’s clothing from the Gap Kids store located at 31-02 Steinway St. in Astoria at 11:20 a.m. on May 14, police reported.
Authorities said the female suspects entered the shop and subsequently removed 96 shirts and tank tops — valued at a combined $1,392 — from store shelves, placed them in a bag and walked out without paying.
One of the suspects is described as a Hispanic female who wore a tan shirt and black pants while carrying a black purse; her accomplice was also a Hispanic female who was last seen wearing a dark-colored jacket and blue jeans while carrying a black-and-tan purse.
Credit card thief cuts into an Ozone Park hair stylist’s finances
Cops are also looking for a woman who stole a purse from a hair stylist at an Ozone Park beauty parlor last month and later used one of the victim’s credit cards.
The theft took place at 5:55 p.m. on May 2, when the unidentified female suspect walked into the beauty salon at 112-03 Liberty Ave. and expressed interest in obtaining various services.
While the stylist, a 25-year-old female, was working with a client, police said, the suspect grabbed her pocketbook — which contained her wallet, several credit and debit cards and personal identification — and fled the scene.
Later, authorities noted, the suspect used one of the victim’s credit cards to make an unauthorized transaction in the amount of $300.
Anyone with information regarding any of the grand larceny cases is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS, visit their website or send a text message to 274637 (CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
The NYPD calls identity theft the fastest-growing crime in the nation, affecting millions of people nationwide. Click here for information on how you can protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft.
