Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Craigslist Car Thief Tries to Sell Nissan Back to Its Owner


By

Garth Johnston

Published Jan 4, 2011

Modified Jan 4, 2011


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

Sure, I'll take that for a "test drive."

 


By

Garth Johnston

Published Jan 4, 2011

Modified Jan 4, 2011


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

24-year-old Valsyl Lazoryshyn might want to rethink that career in crime, if current charges against him are any indication. On December 29 the he allegedly went to check out a 2005 Nissan Maxima he'd seen advertised on Craigslist and instead of buying it he just drove off with it after asking for a test drive. Not the swiftest car swipe we've heard of, but it could be worse. So it's Lazoryshyn's next step that has us worried about his career choice.

You see that night, after he talked to the cops, the owner of the Nissan (who didn't want his name printed out of embarrassment) went online again and found a strikingly similar 2005 Nissan Maxima listed by another seller on Craigslist (maybe this one?). So he did what any totally ashamed 21-year-old would do: he enlisted the help of Shomrim, an Orthodox Jewish anti-crime patrol, and arranged with the Craigslist poster to check out the car.

When Lazoryshyn arrived at the agreed upon meeting spot with the Nissan in question, the cops were called and the perp was nabbed after a short foot chase. Eventually the charges against him were downgraded to petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, both misdemeanors, and he was released on $500 bail.

Tagged

carjackings

craigslist

nypd

shomrim

silly criminals


Garth Johnston

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

5 men charged with trespassing in 2 Manhattan manhole cases

Two people who were found soaking wet and smelling of sewage say they went underground to look for jewelry, according to police and a criminal complaint.

By

Charles Lane

Published Oct 23, 2026 at 7:49 p.m. ET


6-year-old girl breaks leg after getting hit by falling bricks in Queens

The girl was walking with her mother in Maspeth on Thursday. The Department of Buildings cited the owner of a garage for “failure to maintain” it.

By

Charles Lane

News

6-year-old girl breaks leg after getting hit by falling bricks in Queens

The girl was walking with her mother in Maspeth on Thursday. The Department of Buildings cited the owner of a garage for “failure to maintain” it.

By

Charles Lane


Mamdani extends ban on permits for new street fairs due to NYPD overtime

By

Carol Chen

Inside the Midtown Bus Terminal rebuild: Decks over Lincoln Tunnel approach, a new park

By

Ramsey Khalifeh

Black couple seeking Queens apartment sues over racist text from broker

By

Brittany Kriegstein


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .