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Citi Bike Bandit Rolling Around Manhattan Snatching Purses & iPhones

By

Jen Chung

Published May 21, 2015

Modified May 21, 2015

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By

Jen Chung

Published May 21, 2015

Modified May 21, 2015

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Police are searching for a man accused of 11 grand larcenies in Manhattan since February. According to investigators, the suspect has been riding a Citibike or a bike with a basket during each robbery. And it gets worse: this menace to society has also been spotted riding his bike on the sidewalk.

Here are details from the NYPD about the incidents—in each case, the man either removes a female victim's purse or phone from her hand as he rides by:

  1. On Monday, February 2, 2015, at 2330 hours, the victim, a 32-year-old female, was walking on 6 Avenue, within the confines of the 13 Precinct, when the suspect rode up on his bicycle and removed her iPhone from her hand. There were no reported injuries.

  2. On Tuesday, February 3, 2015, at 2250 hours, the victim, a 34-year-old female, was walking on West 19 Street, in the vicinity of 5 Avenue within the confines of the 13 Precinct, when the suspect rode up on his bicycle and removed her iPhone from her hand. There were no reported injuries.

  3. On Saturday, February 28, 2015, at 2100 hours, the victim, a 21-year-old female, was walking on East 20 Street, in the vicinity of 2 Avenue within the confines of the 13 Precinct, when the suspect rode up on his bicycle and removed her phone from her hand. There were no reported injuries.

  4. On Saturday, March 7, 2015, at 2350 hours, the victim, a 34-year-old female, was walking on East 27 Street, in the vicinity of 3 Avenue within the confines of the 13 Precinct, when the suspect rode up on his bicycle and removed her pocketbook. There were no reported injuries.

  5. On Sunday, March 15, 2015, at 0220 hours, the victim, a 29-year-old female, was in front of 100 West 21 Street, within the confines of the 13 Precinct, when the suspect rode up on his bicycle and removed her pocketbook. There were no reported injuries.

  6. On Sunday, March 15, 2015, at 2240 hours, the victim, a 22-year-old female, was walking on East 22 Street, within the confines of the 13 Precinct, when the suspect rode up on his bicycle and removed her phone from her hand. There were no reported injuries.

  7. On Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at 0100 hours, the victim, a 24-year-old female, was walking on East 21 Street, in the vicinity of Park Avenue South within the confines of the 13 Precinct, when the suspect rode up on his bicycle and removed her phone from her hand. There were no reported injuries.

  8. On Saturday, April 4, 2015, at 0557 hours, the victim, a 21-year-old female, was standing in front of 32 East 32 Street, within the confines of the 13 Precinct, when the suspect rode up on his bicycle and removed her phone from her hand. There were no reported injuries.

  9. On Monday, April 20, 2015 at 000 hours, the victim, a 27-year-old female, was walking on 6 Avenue, in the vicinity of West 16 Street within the confines of the 13 Precinct, when the suspect rode up on his bicycle and removed her phone from her hand. There were no reported injuries.

  10. On Tuesday, April 28, 2015, at 0101 hours, the victim, a 23-year-old female, was in front of 544 6 Avenue, within the confines of the 13 Precinct, when the suspect rode up on his bicycle and removed her pocketbook. There were no reported injuries.

  11. On Wednesday, April 29, 2015, at 2230 hours, the victim, a 42-year-old female, was in front of 135 East 17 Street, within the confines of the 13 Precinct, when the suspect rode up on his bicycle and removed her pocketbook. There were no reported injuries.

Here's video of the suspect, who police say has a beard, riding on the sidewalk:

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or texting their tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

Tagged

citibike riding thief

crime

grand larceny

manhattan

Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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