NEW YORK (VINnews) — Police are investigating a series of necklace thefts across New York City in which suspects riding mopeds and electric bikes have snatched jewelry from pedestrians, with some attacks turning violent.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
More than 20 such robberies have been reported since September, at least 10 of which involved violence, according to the New York Police Department, cited by the New York Post. A law enforcement source told the newspaper that the actual number of incidents could be considerably higher.
The robberies have targeted civilians and police officers, with suspects sometimes using knives, firearms or physical force to steal gold chains and other jewelry.
One of the most serious attacks occurred Oct. 2, when NYPD Detective Jose Mercedes was stabbed 10 times in the Bronx as two suspects allegedly attempted to steal a necklace given to him by his mother. The suspects fled on an electric bike and were later arrested outside Boston, according to police.
Earlier this month, Jorge Beltre, a 30-year-old Bronx resident, was stabbed in the leg while walking his 5-year-old son home from school. Police said two suspects on a scooter attacked him as he tried to protect his gold chain. Beltre received five stitches, while his son was not injured.
In another incident, an off-duty female police officer had a necklace stolen in Brooklyn on Oct. 10, according to police sources cited by the Post.
Authorities have linked some of the robberies to suspected members of the Trinitarios street gang, which originated in New York and has operated for decades in parts of the Bronx and upper Manhattan. Federal officials have also linked two suspected gang members to a 2025 shooting of an off-duty federal Border Patrol agent in Manhattan.
An NYPD spokesperson said necklace thefts had declined in the Bronx since the attack on Mercedes. Major crime across the five boroughs was down 7% so far this year, while the Bronx recorded a 12% decrease compared with the same period last year, according to department figures cited by the Post.
The incidents have also renewed debate over enforcement of traffic and other violations involving motorized bikes. Former NYPD detective Michael Alcazar told the Post that stronger enforcement of minor offenses could help deter more serious crimes.
Police continue to investigate the robberies and urge anyone with information to contact authorities.
Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates