Wanted For Seven Incidents In Forest Hills
Two teenagers who have been roaming the streets of Forest Hills and snatching cell phones out of the hands of bystanders over the last several weeks remain at large as of press time, police reported.
A surveillance camera image of the bandits was released last Thursday, Jan. 3, by the NYPD. They are described as African-American males betweeen 16 and 17 years of age, each of whom wore dark clothing.
Law enforcement sources said the pair is responsible for seven street robberies during afternoon and evening hours since Dec. 20, 2012 the most recent of which took place last Wednesday night, Jan. 2.
In that incident, authorities said, the perpetrators robbed a 54-year-old woman in front of a location on Queens Boulevard near 67th Drive at around 6:55 p.m. last Wednesday.
Police said the first two robberies in the pattern occurred on Dec. 20, 2012, when the duo swiped a phone from a 42-year-old man at the corner of Yellowstone Boulevard and 67th Avenue at around 6:05 p.m. Nearly two hours later, they allegedly robbed a 39-year-old woman at the corner of Queens and Yellowstone boulevards at 8 p.m.
On Christmas night, law enforcement sources stated, the perpetrators gave themselves a gift by taking a phone from a 27-year-old woman at the corner of Queens Boulevard and 67th Avenue at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 25.
Three nights later, they reportedly robbed a 28-year-old woman at the corner of Yellowstone Boulevard and 67th Avenue at 6:25 p.m. on Dec. 28. Police said the duo then pilfered a phone from a 35-year-old woman in front of a location on 67th Drive near Queens Boulevard at 3:10 p.m. the following afternoon, Dec. 29.
Police said the teenagers also took a phone from an unidentified individual in the vicinity of Queens Boulevard and 67th Drive on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, at 3:55 p.m.
Each of the incidents were reported to the 112th Precinct, and there were no injuries.
The investigation is ongoing, police said.
Anyone with any information regarding the pattern or the suspects’ whereabouts that could prove helpful is asked to contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-577-TIPS, by text message to 274637 (enter information, then the code TIP577) or online at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.
All calls and messages will be kept confidential.
