A 58-year-old man was grabbed from behind, dragged to the pavement and robbed of his wallet in Queens on Sunday night, Feb. 8, in a late-night attack that police say left the suspect sprinting away on foot. The robbery happened at about 10:38 p.m. near 108th Street and 48th Avenue, and the NYPD later put out a wanted notice asking New Yorkers to help track down the attacker.
According to NYPD Crime Stoppers, the Feb. 20 social media post lays out the basic details of the case, including the victim’s age and the time and location of the robbery, and notes that the suspect has not yet been identified. Investigators are asking anyone who may have seen the incident, or who has useful video, to reach out through the program’s tip lines.
The city’s Crime Stoppers program is offering up to $3,500 for information that leads to an arrest, and tips can be made anonymously by calling 1-800-577-TIPS or using the program’s online tools, according to NYPD Crime Stoppers. The city information page also explains how the hotline protects callers’ identities and how rewards are distributed.
🚨WANTED FOR A ROBBERY: On Sunday, February 8, 2026, at approximately 10:38 PM, in the vicinity of 108 Street and 48 Avenue, a 58-year-old male was approached by an unidentified individual from behind. The individual grabbed the victim by the neck, dragged him to the pavement and… pic.twitter.com/JIdyqAwHvH
— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) February 20, 2026
This latest appeal is one of several recent wanted notices the NYPD has pushed out on social platforms in an effort to crowdsource leads, particularly surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts. In recent weeks, coverage of cases like a knife-wielding thief nabbing a teen's jacket has highlighted how often the department is turning to the public for help on robbery investigations.
Legal context
Under New York law, robbery is defined as forcible stealing, which involves taking property by using physical force or by threatening the immediate use of physical force. It can be charged as a felony, with different degrees that depend on factors such as whether someone was injured or a weapon was displayed, according to the New York Penal Law.
Police are urging anyone with information, including doorbell or security-camera footage from around 108th Street and 48th Avenue at the time of the incident, to review their recordings and contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS or by sending a direct message to @NYPDTips. Tips that lead to an arrest may qualify for a reward and, officials say, will be handled confidentially.
