A two-man team of traveling jewelry thieves on a gas-powered scooter is responsible for robbing 23 people for their chains and baubles across New York City, police said Friday.
The pair, who wear helmets and ride a scooter with a delivery bag on the back, began their mugging spree April 9, cops said, as they released images of the suspects in the hopes that someone recognizes them.
By the end of June, the duo was responsible for 23 chain snatchings and jewelry robberies in Harlem, both downtown and southern Brooklyn and Queens, cops said.
In each case, the two roll up on their scooter, forcibly remove the jewelry, and speed off. Their victims suffered minor injuries from having the chains and necklaces ripped off their necks, police said.
The heart of their robbery spree was centered in Ridgewood and Woodhaven, Queens, where they robbed three teens in separate incidents between April 29 and May 2.
In each case, they approached their victims in the afternoon and ripped necklaces off their unsuspecting victims as they passed.
Two of the victimized adolescents were just 13, cops said. During one of these robberies, the suspects pulled a knife and put their victim in a chokehold before running off with his chain, cops said.
Sometimes, the thieves switch their mopeds and have been seen riding a red moped along with the black one.
Cops are asking anyone with information about these two to call NYPD CrimeStoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
