A Sunday night trip through downtown Flushing turned frightening for a 58-year-old woman who was shoved to the pavement and robbed of her purse at Union Street and Sanford Avenue, according to police. The attack happened around 8:15 p.m. on Jan. 28, and officers say the suspect bolted south on Union Street after the robbery, leaving the victim rattled but not reported to be critically injured. Detectives later turned to the public for help putting a name to the face.
Police appeal for identification and tips
On Feb. 27, the NYPD Crime Stoppers account posted a "WANTED FOR A ROBBERY" alert on X that lays out the Jan. 28 assault and asks for the public's help, according to NYPD Crime Stoppers. The post states that the suspect pushed the 58-year-old woman to the ground, grabbed her purse, then ran off southbound on Union Street. Police are urging anyone who recognizes the person in the alert to contact investigators so detectives can chase down fresh leads.
Where it happened
The corner of Union Street and Sanford Avenue falls inside the NYPD's 109th Precinct, which covers Flushing and surrounding neighborhoods, according to the precinct information on NYPD. The intersection sits in the heart of downtown Flushing, a busy commercial strip where foot traffic is heavy from morning to late evening. Residents have raised concerns about street-level crime at recent precinct community council meetings, per reporting from the Flushing Post.
How to submit tips and reward details
Tipsters who help lead police to an arrest and indictment in the case could be eligible for a reward of up to $3,500, and all calls are kept confidential, according to NYPD Crime Stoppers. Anyone with information can call 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). Spanish speakers can call 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Tips can also be submitted online through NYPD Crime Stoppers or via the NYPD mobile app.
Local context
The 109th Precinct covers one of Queens' more crowded commercial hubs, and local coverage shows that thefts and robberies, including purse snatches and storefront break-ins, have surfaced in recent years. Community outlets such as QNS along with city reporting on a 2024 Flushing boutique break-in highlight how busy retail corridors can become targets for opportunistic thieves.
Authorities are again asking anyone who knows anything about the Jan. 28 robbery to reach out to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS, use the Spanish line at 1-888-57-PISTA, or submit tips online. Callers can remain anonymous and may qualify for the reward, police said. Investigators are also asking anyone who may have captured the incident on video or in photos to save that footage and share it with detectives to help move the case forward.
