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Fake mechanic in Bayside convinces victim to let him fix his car and cons him out of $1,700: cops

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Photos courtesy of the NYPD

Police are looking for a phony mechanic who swindled a man out of over $1,000 in the Oakland Gardens section of Bayside last month.

According to authorities, at 5:30 p.m. on July 19, a 27-year-old man was behind a CVS Pharmacy, located at 215-08 73rd Ave., when he was approached by an unknown man who identified himself as a mechanic. The man told the victim that the rear tire on his car was in need of immediate repair, otherwise it would fall off.

Law enforcement sources said the victim agreed to let the suspect fix his tire and paid him $1,700 for his service.

The suspect then fled the scene southbound on Bell Boulevard in a white Chevrolet Suburban SUV. It was later determined that the victim’s vehicle did not need to be repaired.

Cops described the fake fixer as a Hispanic man in his 30s standing 5 feet, 8 inches tall. He was last seen sporting a ponytail and wearing a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident 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 are strictly confidential.