The real cops are looking for a couple of fake cops behind three recent robberies in northwest Queens.
According to police, at 12:30 a.m. on July 7, a 44-year-old male victim was walking on 103rd Street in Corona when he was approached by an unknown man holding a radio. The man stopped the victim, stated “Policia,” and proceeded to search the victim’s pockets.
Law enforcement sources said the suspect then took $500 from the victim and fled the scene in a vehicle that was driven by another man. The victim held onto the car and was dragged along the road, suffering abrasions to his lower back and buttocks. The victim refused medical attention at the scene.
Authorities said the suspects struck again on July 21. At 10:35 that night, a 54-year-old man was walking on the sidewalk down Broadway in Elmhurst when he was approached by the suspects, who asked to see the man’s ID. The crooks then snatched victim’s wallet, which contained $760, and fled the location northbound on Broadway in a dark-colored, four-door sedan.
There were no injuries reported as a result of this incident.
The third incident took place the next night, on July 22. At 10:20 p.m., police said, a 51-year-old man was approached by the suspects at the intersection of 35th Avenue and 93rd Street in Jackson Heights. The suspects asked to see the man’s ID and then grabbed his wallet, which contained $1,000.
Cops said the crooks then fled the scene in a dark-colored, four-door sedan northbound on 93rd Street. There were no injuries reported as a result of this incident.
Police described the fake cops as Hispanic men. An NYPD sketch artist released the following image of one of the suspects:
The vehicle used in each instance is described as a dark colored Toyota Prius. Police released the following video of the car in question:
Anyone with information in regards to this Police Impersonation Robbery Pattern is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
