Someone in Corona really wants to level up their trading card collection, according to the NYPD. Detectives are looking for a suspect tied to two robberies and a residential burglary in the Queens neighborhood that left a 42-year-old man injured and tens of thousands of dollars in cards missing.
What the NYPD Says
In a social media bulletin, NYPD Crime Stoppers said the first incident unfolded last Thursday at about 7:30 p.m. in the vicinity of Corona Avenue and Saultell Avenue. Police say assailants struck a 42-year-old man with a glass bottle, took his jacket and ran off with trading cards worth roughly $4,500.
Investigators say the next evening, around 6 p.m. near Van Doren Street and Saultell Avenue, someone went into a residence and removed packages that contained trading cards valued at about $30,000. The person shown in the images released by police has not been identified, and detectives are asking anyone who recognizes the individual to step forward, according to NYPD Crime Stoppers.
Why Collectibles Are a Target
High-value trading cards have become a favorite target for thieves, with recent heists across the country racking up six-figure losses and showing how quickly rare cards can be flipped on secondary markets. Coverage of these thefts, including smash-and-grab jobs that clear display cases in minutes, underscores how vulnerable both card shops and private collections can be, according to CBS Los Angeles.
How Neighbors Can Help
Police are urging residents and local businesses in Corona to comb through doorbell and security camera footage from last Thursday and Friday and to save any clips that might show the suspect or the suspect's movements. Tips can be submitted anonymously through NYPD Crime Stoppers or by calling 1-800-577-TIPS. Spanish-language tips are accepted at 1-888-57-PISTA, according to the program's guidance.
Local Context
Hoodline has been tracking a recent run of NYPD wanted notices as detectives lean on community video and anonymous tips to move cases forward. One recent example involved a Queens sidewalk robbery, covered in our 58-year-old mugged report. Anyone who recognizes the person in the latest images or has relevant footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers so investigators can chase down new leads.
