In the middle of the day last Wednesday, a 91-year-old man standing outside his home near 84th Street and Dry Harbor Road in Middle Village had a gold necklace yanked from his neck, police say. The chain is valued at about $2,000. The thief took off in a white SUV, leaving the senior badly shaken but not physically hurt.
NYPD Crime Stoppers shared the account of the case along with surveillance stills, laying out a timeline that starts around 12:41 p.m. outside the victim's home. According to the bulletin, the suspect first struck up a conversation with the man, then suddenly grabbed the necklace and ran to a white SUV that took off eastbound on Dry Harbor Road. NYPD Crime Stoppers on Facebook posted the reel with images of the suspect and vehicle, plus contact information for tips.
Suspect Details and Possible Pattern
Investigators have not released a detailed physical description of the suspect beyond what is visible in the surveillance images. The timing and method, however, line up with a series of necklace snatches and distraction-style larcenies that have been reported around the city this spring. As reporting on a cross-borough grand larceny spree noted, the NYPD has circulated multiple wanted alerts this season as detectives look for repeat offenders who may be operating across several precincts. Police say that even a small detail, such as a clearer video clip or a partial plate number, can help investigators track movements in cases like this one.
How to Help
Anyone with information about this incident or the person seen in the posted images is asked to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers by submitting a tip online or calling 1-800-577-TIPS. Spanish speakers may call 1-888-57-PISTA. Tips can be submitted anonymously, and the NYPD website explains how the program works and what to expect when you reach out. NYPD Crime Stoppers provides the hotline, online portal and mobile-app instructions.
Neighbors in Middle Village say opportunistic thefts aimed at seniors are an ongoing concern. Police are urging residents to keep valuables out of sight when possible and to be cautious about engaging with strangers at their doors or on the sidewalk. Anyone who recognizes the suspect or the white SUV from the posted images is asked to call the Crime Stoppers hotline or submit a web tip so detectives can follow up.
