Police released an image of the moped-riding man they say is responsible for stealing over $10,000 worth of gold chains during a snatching spree across the Bronx. Three of the seven robberies happened in Fordham Heights.
The suspect is pictured carrying a food delivery backpack while riding a black moped. According to the NYPD, he mainly targeted women during the month-long heist, carried out from July 20 to Aug. 22.
The man first zeroed in on a 22-year-old woman in front of 262 East 174th St. Police say he rode up on a moped, while honking his horn, and grabbed her gold chain off her neck. He followed a similar strategy in the following thefts.
Just over two weeks later, two women were robbed just moments apart, according to the NYPD.
On Aug. 5, the man rode up to a 36-year-old in West Farms and a 31-year-old in Belmont, snatching two chains from each woman’s neck. Police say the 36-year-old victim was able to get her jewelry back.
Two additional women were targeted just 10 minutes apart on Aug. 8.
According to police, the man was carrying a red DoorDash bag when he snatched a 20-year-old woman’s $2,300 chain from her neck in Fordham Heights.
The NYPD says the alleged robber then traveled to Belmont, where he grabbed a saint pendant off a 47-year-old woman’s neck, valued at approximately $1,200.
The final two incidents reported by the NYPD happened in Fordham Heights.
According to police, a 46-year-old woman was robbed of her chain worth around $1,000 on Aug. 16.
Six days later, the suspect allegedly snatched the most valuable chain – worth around $5,100 – off a 40-year-old man’s neck.
None of the victims suffered serious injuries during the robberies, according to police.
Police urge anyone with information to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.