NEW YORK, NY – A string of swift necklace snatchings carried out by thieves on black mopeds has swept through several New York City neighborhoods over the past six weeks, targeting unsuspecting pedestrians in broad daylight.
Authorities said the crimes, which began in mid-October and continued through late November, span multiple boroughs and appear linked by a similar method and suspect descriptions.
In each case, the suspects approached victims while riding a black moped, ripped jewelry from their necks, and fled to unknown locations.
Rash of robberies tied to Roosevelt Avenue
The first known incident occurred on October 17, when a 19-year-old woman at Roosevelt Avenue and 85 Street was robbed of a $500 pendant by a rider who sped off eastbound on Roosevelt Avenue. Less than two weeks later, a 15-year-old girl was attacked in front of 84-30 Roosevelt Avenue, suffering neck injuries as her $1,300 necklace was taken.
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Two more robberies followed along the same corridor. On November 6, two individuals on a moped targeted a 21-year-old man at 91-09 Roosevelt Avenue, stealing only the pendant portion of his chain worth $600. Earlier, on November 5, a 68-year-old man was assaulted in Greenpoint at 750 Manhattan Avenue and suffered a hand injury after his $1,800 necklace was ripped away.
Crimes spread across boroughs
The thefts did not remain confined to Queens. On November 20, an 18-year-old woman in Sunnyside was targeted at 54-21 48 Street, losing a $1,900 necklace to two suspects on a moped who fled northbound. That same day, a nearly identical crime occurred in Midtown Manhattan at Lexington Avenue and East 46 Street, where a 22-year-old woman was robbed of a necklace valued at $7,000.
Six days later, a 34-year-old woman standing at Havemeyer Street and Broadway in Williamsburg had her $1,600 necklace snatched by a thief who then boarded a black moped and fled westbound.
Attempted theft in Jackson Heights
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The most recent known attempt happened on November 29 in Jackson Heights. A 16-year-old boy selling flowers at 76-10 37 Avenue was approached by a man asking about prices before lunging at the teen’s chain. The suspect failed to remove it and escaped on a black moped driven by an accomplice.
Investigators across the 17th, 90th, 94th, 108th, 110th, and 115th Precincts are now examining whether the same group is responsible for the coordinated thefts. Police are urging anyone with information to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline.
The moped-linked jewelry thefts have so far resulted in more than $15,000 in stolen property across at least three boroughs.
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