NYPD Crime Stoppers is asking Brooklyn residents to help track down scooter-riding suspects who have been snatching headphones from pedestrians in what detectives are treating as a pattern of grand larcenies. Investigators say at least two people had their headphones taken in separate but similar incidents in areas patrolled by the 79th and 77th Precincts. In each case, the suspects allegedly rolled up on a motorized scooter, grabbed the headphones and sped off. Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest.
In a post on Friday, NYPD Crime Stoppers said both incidents happened on June 15, with one robbery reported near Hancock Street and Bedford Avenue and another near Brooklyn Avenue and Atlantic Avenue. The bulletin lists the victims as a 39-year-old and a 25-year-old and says both had headphones stolen after suspects approached while riding a motorized scooter. The post also notes the program is offering up to $3,500 for tips that lead to an arrest and indictment. Anyone with information was urged to call the tipline or send a direct message to @NYPDTips.
What investigators say
Detectives say analysts linked the two June 15 incidents after reviewing surveillance footage and witness accounts. One theft was reported near Hancock Street and Bedford Avenue and the other near Brooklyn Avenue and Atlantic Avenue. Authorities described photos showing suspects on a motorized scooter and have released still images to help identify them. According to the bulletin, the first victim was a 39-year-old and the second a 25-year-old.
How police identify patterns
The NYPD often leans on pattern-analysis tools to connect similar thefts across precinct boundaries, as detailed by the INFORMS Journal on Applied Analytics. That work outlines Patternizr, a department-built system that helps analysts find related burglaries, robberies and larcenies by matching characteristics such as method and location. Police say pattern detection lets investigators prioritize cases and target resources where crimes are clustered.
How to tip and stay safe
Anyone with information or video of the incidents is asked to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS, or to message @NYPDTips on X. Tips may be submitted anonymously and could qualify for the reward noted in the bulletin. Police also advise pedestrians to be aware of their surroundings and secure personal items like headphones and phones when walking through busy streets.
Legal context
Grand larceny is the state's statute for major thefts and can be charged at different degrees depending on value and circumstances; specifics are laid out in state guidance. For a legal summary of grand larceny statutes and degrees, see New York Courts.
Local reporters and residents have noted a run of quick thefts and moped- or scooter-enabled snatch-and-runs in Brooklyn this summer, a trend Hoodline has tracked in recent weeks. Hoodline's coverage of a Bed-Stuy moped stickup earlier in June shows how two-wheeled getaways complicate investigations and evidence collection, and underscores why detectives are asking for the public's help.
