BAYSIDE – Cops were hunting for a suspect who allegedly smashed his way into eight stores in Corona, Forest Hills, Fresh Meadows and Bayside to steal phones, iPads and purses over the past several months, the NYPD said.
Authorities said that four of the overnight burglaries took place at shops on Junction Boulevard between May and July, and during those break-ins, 24 phones 24 phones and four iPads were taken.
On July 5 at about 2:40 a.m., the suspect allegedly entered Metro PCS AV Media in Forest Hills and took seven Louis Vuitton handbags and a Gucci purse, police said.
Five days later, the suspect allegedly returned to the same location to swipe 18 phones and another nine handbags, cops said.
On Aug. 9, AT&T Mobile in Fresh Meadows was hit and 19 phones along with an iPad were swiped, authorities said.
Later in the month, the suspect allegedly struck AT&T Mobile, but nothing was taken, police said.
Cops described the suspect as a light-skinned man, and authorities released a surveillance image of the suspect they said was recorded during one of the Corona burglaries.
Police said that during the burglaries the suspect allegedly got into the stores by breaking the front door glass or the window.
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.
