One-Armed Crook Makes Steal In Wdhvn.
Woodhaven residents are being asked to help police track down a one-arm bandit who was caught on tape stealing a package from outside a neighborhood home last month.
According to the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association (WRBA), the theft took place on the afternoon of Monday, July 23, shortly after the parcel delivered by UPS was dropped off on the front porch of a home located in the vicinity of 94th Street and 86th Avenue.
The home was equipped with a security camera which would record the theft in its entirety.
Moments after the package was delivered, it was reported, the suspect- described as a male who was missing his right arm and wearing a checkered-pattern shirt and blue jeans-pulled up across the street from the home inside a silver minivan.
Reportedly, the bandit walked up to the porch of the residence, grabbed the package, then fled from the scene. The homeowner delivered copies of the video to the 102nd Precinct in reporting the theft, and later to the WRBA.
In a press release issued on Sunday, Aug. 5, WRBA members urged the public to take notice of the photo and video, which is available online at YouTube, and to call police should they see an individual fitting the description of the suspected thief.
“This is yet another example of how useful video surveillance cameras can be for our neighborhood. Now we need to put this extremely strong evidence to work and make sure this thief gets caught,” said WRBA President Ed Wendell. “He might be from Woodhaven or he might be from a nearby neighborhood. Wherever he’s from, you should let us know if you have any clues, because you might be his next victim.”
“You can be sure this isn’t the first time he stole something that was delivered to a residence in the area,” added WRBA board member Martin Colberg. “We know what the criminal looks like, we know that he seems to be missing his right arm and we know he was driving a silver minivan. Someone out there will recognize this thief and we want them to turn this guy in.”
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with any information regarding the theft that could prove helpful is asked to call the 102nd Precinct at 1-718-805-3207 or the WRBA at 1-718-296-3737.
