Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NYPD: People Selling Yeezy Sneakers Via Facebook Are Getting Robbed At Gunpoint
By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 20, 2017
Modified Jul 20, 2017
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 .
By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 20, 2017
Modified Jul 20, 2017
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
A pair of robbers with a lust for designer sneakers and other high-end items have been targeting people trying to sell various goods through Facebook, police say. Six people have been robbed by the same two suspects in Brooklyn between April and July.
According to the NYPD, the suspect(s) make an agreement on Facebook to meet up with the victim and buy a product. But instead of handing over cash, the suspect(s) brandish a firearm and take the product for free.
Here are the incidents, according to police:
- On Friday, April 28th at approximately 10:40 a.m., an individual removed 21 year-old male victim's Adidas sneakers in front of 2597 Bedford Avenue.
- On Friday, May 5th at approximately 9:40 a.m., an individual simulated a firearm and removed the 18 year-old male victim's Yeezy sneakers in the vicinity of Avenue D and East 25 Street.
- On Friday, June 16th at approximately 3:40 p.m., two individuals approached 17 year-old male victim in the vicinity of Cortelyou Road and East 21 Street and displayed a firearm. The individuals removed a pair of Yeezy sneakers and fled.
- On Friday, June 23rd, between 11:50 a.m. and 12:06 p.m., the individual displayed a firearm inside Burger King, located at 2848 Church Avenue, and demanded the 16 year-old victim's property. The individual removed Yeezy sneakers, an iPhone, and a backpack.
- On Monday, July 10th, at approximately 11:54 a.m., the individual displayed a firearm to the 18 year-old male victim inside Burger King, located at 2848 Church Avenue. The individual removed the victim's Apple Watch and $229 in cash.
- On Wednesday, July 12th, at 11:10 a.m., the individual walked up to the 20 year-old male victim inside the Newkirk Avenue "5" train subway station and punched him in his face. The individual removed two pairs of Yeezy sneakers and fled.
The NYPD released this video of the suspects:
Anyone with information in regards to these incidents is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
Correction: The post originally showed a photograph of sneakers that were identified as Yeezy Boost sneakers but are actually just other fancy Adidas sneakers. Apologies to Yeezus.
Tagged
brooklyn
crime
robbery
serial robbery
yeezy
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Blind man dismissed from grand jury duty can sue NY for discrimination, judge rules
Albert Elia accused officials of "systemic discrimination" against blind people looking to serve on juries.
By
Samantha Max
Published Oct 6, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. ET
Gatorade recall affects drinks sold in New York and New Jersey
More than 122,000 cases are being recalled over undeclared food dyes.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Gatorade recall affects drinks sold in New York and New Jersey
More than 122,000 cases are being recalled over undeclared food dyes.
By
Giulia Heyward
Gov. Hochul declares upstate NY measles outbreak a ‘disaster emergency’
By
Caroline Lewis
NYPD detective forced to retire after false statements in Brooklyn investigation
By
Charles Lane
Mamdani faces pressure to forge ahead with plan to fix polluting South Bronx market
By
Elizabeth Kim
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 .