Police from the 104th Precinct are urging the public to keep an eye out for a man who has been riding his bicycle around the community and snatching phones from distracted victims.
The most recent event occurred on Friday, Aug. 30 on 65th Place in Glendale. The victim was texting on her phone when a man who was described as black or Hispanic, 5-foot-8 and about 180 pounds rode up to her on a black and silver bike and snatched her iPhone from her hands, the NYPD said. The victim was not injured.
“We ask no matter where you are at, please be aware of your surroundings at all times – especially when you are using one of these high-priced phones or devices,” the 104th Precinct said in a prepared statement. “If a perpetrator sees that you are distracted while using one of these devices, they can make you a target.”
Additionally, the 104th Precinct has taken multiple reports from victims after they were contacted via phone from an unknown individual demanding money under the threat that they would harm a family member. The number from which the perpetrator calls differs.
If anyone is contacted by someone demanding money under the threat of force, police ask that 911 be called immediately.
Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at (800) 577-TIPS.
