Police are looking for at least two men who carried out a string of daylight muggings in western Queens by targeting women wearing necklaces – including two victims aged in their 80s (Photos: NYPD)
Sept. 16, 2022 By Michael Dorgan
Police are looking for at least two men who carried out a string of daylight muggings in western Queens by targeting women wearing necklaces – including two victims aged in their 80s.
The alleged robberies took place during six different incidents — between Aug. 31 and Sept. 12 – when the suspects approached each woman from behind and ripped the chains from around their necks, according to police. They then fled the scenes either on foot or by bike.
The muggings took place in Elmhurst, Long Island City, Astoria and Sunnyside with the total value of the necklaces stolen being nearly $11,000, police said.
The first incident took place in Elmhurst on Aug. 31 at around 10:55 a.m. when a suspect approached a 50-year-old victim while she was walking at the intersection of Forley Street and 43rd Avenue.
He first attempted to snatch the woman’s bag before slapping her in the neck. He then grabbed the victim’s chain – worth around $800 — from around her neck before fleeing on foot northbound on Forley Street.
About a week later, on Sept. 8 at around 12:55 p.m., a suspect riding a white-colored bicycle approached a 44-year-old woman who was walking outside 12-23 Jackson Avenue in Long Island City — the premises formerly occupied by Bierocracy. The assailant then snatched the victim’s gold chain from around her neck and fled westbound on 47th Road. The chain is worth around $2,500.
Two days later, on Sept. 10 at around 11:45 a.m., a suspect approached an 82-year-old victim as she was walking out of her home in the vicinity of 43rd Street and 34th Avenue in Astoria. The assailant then pulled a gold chain from around her neck causing the item’s crucifix to fall to the ground.
The suspect then picked up the crucifix and fled southbound on 43rd Street on a bicycle, police said. The gold crucifix is valued at around $1,200. The woman suffered pain in her neck but refused medical attention at the scene.
Around ten minutes later, a suspect targeted an 83-year-old woman outside a residence at 28-03 38th St. in Astoria. The suspect approached the victim from behind, grabbed her necklace and then fled westbound on 38th Street. He then got on an electric bicycle and fled eastbound on 28th Avenue.
The victim suffered bruising to her neck but refused medical attention at the scene. The necklace is worth around $1,800.
The crime spree continued later that day when, at around 2:30 p.m. in Sunnyside, a suspect mugged a 66-year-old woman who was walking outside an apartment building at 39-65 52nd St. The alleged thief approached the victim on a gray-colored bicycle and then snatched a yellow metal necklace from around her neck.
He then fled the scene on the bike towards 52nd Street and 39th Drive. The woman’s chain is worth around $800.
The total value of all the necklaces stolen by the thieves is around $10,900, police said.
Police released video and images of the suspects wanted for questioning.
The perpetrators are described by police as being light-skinned and aged between 30 and 35 years of age.
Anyone with information in regard to these incidents are asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/.
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