Police were searching Tuesday for a man they say stole necklaces from three teenage girls and one woman while riding a moped in Queens during the daytime over the past month.
According to the NYPD, the suspect rode up to the girls and woman as they walked on Long Island City streets on four separate occasions since Dec. 22, and forcibly took chains from their necks before fleeing.
In the first incident, the suspect allegedly robbed a 15-year-old girl around 8:30. a.m. near 47th Avenue and 37th Street.
In the second incident, police said he stole another chain from a 16-year-old girl around the same time last Tuesday in front of 45-48 42nd St.
The following day, the suspect stole jewelry from an 11-year-old girl around 2:30 p.m. in front of 49-18 39th Ave., police said.
The fourth incident occurred around 9:15 a.m last Thursday, when the suspect attempted to steal a chain from a 23-year-old woman outside 38-03 52nd St., according to police. He failed to take the necklace but fled south on 52nd Street on his moped.
The NYPD said none of the victims were injured in the incidents. A surveillance photo released by the department shows the suspect riding a black moped and wearing a black puffer jacket.
Robberies in the 108th precinct, which includes Long Island City, rose 37.5% last year over 2022, to 264, NYPD data shows. Police made 124 robbery arrests in the precinct in 2023.
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