A group of thieves broke into a Middle Village automotive repair business late last month and drove off with five vehicles that were parked in the lot near All Faiths Cemetery, according to authorities.
Police from the 104th Precinct are looking for at least five men who slipped through a window at Essential Auto Care, located at 69-90 73rd Pl., at around 5 a.m. on Sunday, July 31, when it was closed for business, according to the NYPD.
🚨WANTED for BURGLARY🚨
On 7/31/22 in the vicinity of 73 PL & 73 ST at 5AM, 5 individuals entered the location through a window, grabbed vehicle keys and removed 5 vehicles from the location. Got @NYPDTips? Call us direct 718-386-2723 or 1-800-577-TIPS.
— NYPD 104th Precinct (@NYPD104Pct) August 17, 2022
Once inside, the thieves forcefully entered an office inside the garage and removed multiple sets of keys being stored at the shop, police said. The suspects then fanned out across the lot and selected the vehicles matching the sets of keys.
The brazen car thieves drove off with five vehicles in various directions, police said.
Three of the vehicles were recovered at later dates at various locations while each was unoccupied. One of the vehicles was found with one of the suspects behind the wheel and an arrest was made. The fifth vehicle, which police say is a gray 2018 BMW 5 series, is still unaccounted for.
No injuries were reported as a result of the multi-vehicle heist, police said.
The NYPD released video surveillance on Aug. 16 that that shows two of the five thieves as they prepared to drive off in two SUVs.
A $3,500 reward is being offered and anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS.
