LONG ISLAND CITY — A serial iPhone thief has been snatching the sought-after devices out of the hands of unsuspecting customers and pedestrians and then fleeing the scene, the NYPD said.
The fleet-footed suspect has been tied to eight incidents in Long Island City, Dutch Kills and Astoria, police said. In each instance, he approaches the victims from behind and grabs the iPhones out of their hands, police said. The victims did not sustain any injuries in the crimes, according to the NYPD, which has released a photo of the suspect.
The robber hit the Court Square stop near the E train section Aug. 1 at about 9:30 p.m., Sept. 7 at about 5:45 p.m. and Sept. 15 at about 12:40 p.m., cops said.
The suspect, described as a roughly 6-foot-tall black man about 20 years old, also snatched smart phones in Astoria: Sept. 11 at about 7:30 p.m. near the corner of 36th Avenue and 29th Street, Sept. 17 at 12:30 p.m. near the corner of 35th Avenue and 28th Street and then again at 9 p.m. near the corner of Broadway and 31st Street, Sept. 19 at about 3:30 p.m. near the corner of 37th Avenue and 31st Street and Sept. 20 at about 3:15 p.m. near the corner of 35th Avenue and 28th Street.
Those with information should contact NYPD’s Crimestoppers by calling 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting its website at nypdcrimestoppers.com or texting 274637 (CRIMES) and entering TIP577.
