By Sadef Ali Kully
The NYPD is looking for a suspect in a series of livery cab robberies that occurred after he got into the cars at John F. Kennedy International Airport and then robbed the driver after reaching his destination, police officials said.
A man identified as James Hanley is wanted in connection with seven known incidents between Feb. 2 and Feb. 9, police said.
In each incident, after being picked up by a livery cab, the suspect allegedly claimed to be a police officer while brandishing a firearm and demanding property, the NYPD said. Police said the suspect did not display a police badge.
“We want to find the suspect before the situation escalates,” a police source.
The NYPD is circulating a wanted poster with a reward of $2,000 for information leading to his whereabouts. He is described as a black male who is about 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds
So far, the perpetrator has robbed livery drivers of more than $900, credit cards, and one iPhone, authorities said.
The last incident took place on Feb. 9 at 9:20 p.m. when the suspect took $70 in cash and credit cards and then fled the cab at 228th Street and 147th Avenue, according to the NYPD.
The three southeast Queens precincts – the 105, 103 and 113 – are cooperating with each other in this investigation, according to a police source.
Reach Reporter Sadef Ali Kully by e-mail at skully@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4546.
