The NYPD on Nov. 13 released alarming surveillance video of two heartless chain-snatchers who injured a 12-year-old girl in Elmhurst last month.
Police say the youngster was walking home from school during the afternoon of Monday, Oct. 24, when the two men riding a scooter approached her from behind in front of 42-63 Layton St. One of the crooks grabbed the victim’s necklace from her neck and dragged her along the sidewalk before racing off, according to authorities.
The girl suffered bruising and cuts, police said, adding that it was the first of seven chain-snatching incidents in Elmhurst, Corona and Jackson Heights involving the two suspects.
Two days later, a 37-year-old woman was walking at the intersection of 34th Avenue and 103rd Street in Corona when the two men approached on the scooter and punched her in the face, police said. They attempted to take her necklace but failed and rode away empty-handed.
Just 10 minutes later, the two men rode up behind a 43-year-old woman who was walking near the intersection of 31st Avenue and 76th Street in Jackson Heights, shoved her to the ground and sped off with two of her necklaces, according to authorities.
Less than four hours later, the two men struck again in front of 41-53 75th St. in Elmhurst where they rode up behind a 52-year-old man and snatched a chain from his neck before speeding off, police said.
The duo struck for the fourth time on Oct. 26 when they rode up behind a 35-year-old woman as she walked in front of 35-20 77th St. in Jackson Heights and snatched her necklace before racing away, according to authorities.
The following afternoon, a 70-year-old woman was walking in front of 34-21 77th St. near Travers Park in Jackson Heights when the suspect rode up behind her and snatched her necklace before fleeing, police said.
The two men struck again in the 110th Precinct on the afternoon of Monday, Nov. 7, when they rode up behind a 48-year-old woman as she crossed the intersection of Penrod Street and Otis Avenue in Corona and pulled off her necklace before speeding away from the scene, according to authorities.
A reward of up to $3,500 is being offered for information leading to the arrests of the two men.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS.
