Crooks Dupe Victims In Stop-And-Steal Scheme
Tricking their victims into pulling their rides over, a group of thieves have been roaming the streets of Queens in recent months stealing valuables out of the stopped vehicles-and police are asking the public for assistance in catching them.
Law enforcement sources said three unidentified suspects are responsible for a pattern of 12 grand larcenies across the borough dating back to last August. Two of the crooks involved in the scheme were captured on surveillance camera footage released by the NYPD last Tuesday, Mar. 5.
In most of the incidents, authorities stated, one of the perpetrators approached a driver and claimed that their car had a flat tire. After pulling the vehicle over and exiting it to inspect the wheels, the suspect’s cohorts reportedly entered the vehicles, grabbed property and fled.
Police said the first robbery in the pattern occurred on Aug. 9, 2012 at 3 p.m. in Flushing, when the suspects informed a driver at a Bank of Amer- ica parking lot that he had a flat tire. Reportedly, the crooks followed him to a location on College Point Boulevard and swiped property from his vehicle after he stopped to check the alleged damage.
Several months went by before the crook struck again on Dec. 15, 2012, duping and robbing an individual at an undisclosed location within the confines of the 111th Precinct in northeastern Queens, police noted.
Law enforcement sources stated 10 of the 12 grand larcenies have occurred between Jan. 16 and Feb. 28, several of which took place within the Times Newsweekly’s coverage area.
According to authorities, the bandits robbed a woman who stopped her vehicle at the corner of Cross Bay Boulevard and 163rd Avenue in Howard Beach on Jan. 16 at 2:35 p.m. In this caper, police noted, the victim realized she had a flat tire, and-upon checking the ride at the location-was approached by one of the suspects, who offered to help.
Moments later, it was reported, the victim returned to her vehicle and realized that assorted property had been removed.
Another larceny in the pattern took place on Feb. 1 at 1:40 p.m. at a location within the confines of the 104th Precinct. Law enforcement sources said a suspect approached a female victim and informed her that her car had a flat tire.
The woman reportedly pulled her car over, and one of the perpetrators went to assist her. As they worked on the tire, police noted, another crook entered the victim’s vehicle from the passenger’s side and removed property .
A similar larceny took place on Feb. 5 at 12:30 p.m. in the confines of the 106th Precinct, authorities noted. Ten days later, police sources added, the crooks took property out of the vehicle belonging to a man as he changed a flat tire on 131st Street in Richmond Hill on Feb. 15 at 3:15 p.m.
One of the more brazen thefts in the pattern took place on Feb. 21 at around 4 p.m., when the crew victimized a woman in Long Island City. Reportedly, she was informed by one of the suspects that she had a flat tire while driving along Review Avenue.
Police said the woman, however, continued driving toward a tire repair shop at 38-18 Queens Blvd. in Long Island City, and the suspects followed her along the way. When she arrived at the location, authorities noted, one of the suspects again approached and offered to assist her in fixing her flat.
As they conversed, it was reported, a suspect entered the woman’s vehicle and removed property.
Other incidents in the pattern include the following locations:
– a Chase parking lot at 33-45 154th St. in Murray Hill on Jan. 19 at 12:40 p.m.;
– in front of a location on Northern Boulevard near 150th Street in Murray Hill on Jan. 22 at 10:33 a.m.;
– a supermarket parking lot at 144-50 Northern Blvd. in Flushing on Feb. 2 at 3:08 p.m.;
– a location on Jamaica Avenue near 216th Street in Queens Village on Feb. 15 at 1:30 p.m.; and
– a parking lot on Northern Boulevard within the confines of the 109th Precinct on Feb. 28 at 3:57 p.m.
The NYPD Queens Robbery Squad is investigating the case, police said.
Anyone with any information regarding the larcenies 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.
