Bike-Riding Thief Snatches 12 cellphones in Jackson Heights and Surrounding Areas

Aug. 1, 2016 By Staff Report

The police are searching for a serial cell phone thief who has struck 12 times in the past month, targeting victims while riding his bicycle around Jackson Heights and adjacent areas.

The suspect first struck on June 25 at 11 pm, when he rode past a 45-year-old woman in the vicinity of Elmhurst Ave and 92^nd Street and snatched her iPhone 6 from her hand, according to police.

He struck again just a day later on June 26 at 2:30 am near 92^nd Street and 37^th Ave, when he swiped a 36-year-old man’s iPhone 6 from his pocket, police said. The suspect fled on his bicycle towards Roosevelt Ave.

The suspect, who appeared to take a break for two weeks, then reappeared allegedly swiping a phone on July 8^th at 1:45 am on the southeast corner of 37^th Ave and 99^th Street. He approached a 46-year-old man, grabbed his iPhone 5 and fled the location, this time on foot, according to the NYPD.

Just days later he was back at it. On July 10^th at 11:10 pm he rode past a 29-year-old man who was at 94-35 37^th Ave and pinched the victim’s phone from his back pocket. The victim, however, managed to kick the back tire of the bike as the suspect was fleeing, causing the suspect to drop the phone. The suspect fled southbound on 95^th Street without the phone, police said.

He then took some time off before striking on three consecutive days.

First, on July 16 at 4:30 am he grabbed a 31-year-old man’s iPhone 6 on the northwest corner of 37^th Ave and Junction Blvd.

On July 17^th at 4:30 am he swiped a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge from a 19-year-old man’s hand on the northeast corner of 35^th Ave and 93^rd Street.

He then snatched a 65-year-old man’s iPhone on the southwest corner of 37^th Ave and 74^th Street on July 18^th at 1 am.

He has stuck five more times since July 20^th.

First, on July 20^th at 1:30 am he grabbed a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 from a 34-year-old man’s hand, in front of 95-11 Roosevelt Ave.

On July 22^nd at 11 pm he grabbed a Samsung Galaxy 6H from a 24-year-old man’s hand while he was on the southwest corner of 37^th Ave and Warren Street.

On July 28^th at 11:35 pm, he nabbed a Samsung Galaxy 6H from a 43-year-old man’s hand as he rode past him on the northwest corner of 104^th Street and 37^th Ave.

On July 29^th he struck in front of 72-12 Northern Blvd at 7:10 pm, grabbing a Samsung Note 4 from as 46-year-old man, as the suspect rode past him on his bicycle, police said.

He last struck on July 30^th, at 1:10 am, in front of 34-23 103^rd Street. He rode past a 30-year-old man and snatched his Samsung Galaxy Edge 6 from his hand, before fleeing towards Roosevelt Ave, according to the NYPD.

Police have released a surveillance video form the last incident and are asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).