NEW YORK CITY, NY – The New York City Police Department is reaching out for public assistance to locate a suspect linked to a series of thefts in the 45th and 108th Precincts. The incidents involved the theft of necklaces from elderly victims through deception.
The first incident occurred in the 45th Precinct on Tuesday, at around 11:11 a.m. An 81-year-old woman was approached by the suspect at the corner of Bradford Avenue and Waterbury Avenue. The suspect, feigning a request for directions, placed a counterfeit necklace on her while stealthily removing her actual necklace, and then escaped in a black SUV.
A similar strategy was used in the second incident in the 108th Precinct on the same day at approximately 2:46 p.m. Here, a 72-year-old man was targeted by the suspect on the vicinity of 72nd Street and 51st Road. The suspect attempted the same necklace-switch tactic but was unsuccessful.
The NYPD has released images of the suspect, which can be viewed at the DCPI. The police urge anyone with information about these crimes to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Tips can also be submitted online at the Crime Stoppers website or on Twitter @NYPDTips.
