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Man slashes tires of about 20 NYPD vehicles in Midtown, police say
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Mar 6, 2025
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Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Mar 6, 2025
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Police said Thursday they're looking for suspects in two separate crime patterns in Manhattan — a group of teenagers they say robbed several for-hire drivers, and a man they say slashed tires on roughly two dozen NYPD vehicles.
The tire slashings happened late Tuesday night on West 30th Street and 7th Avenue in Midtown, near the building that houses the department’s citywide traffic task force, police said.
According to officials, the man used a sharp object to puncture the tires on approximately 19 parked NYPD cruisers shortly before midnight.
Officials said surveillance video showed him wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants, a blue hat, grey sneakers and a white surgical mask.
Police said he fled north on 7th Avenue into the 33rd Street subway station, and the NYPD was investigating why he targeted the vehicles.
A surveillance photo of the man who police say slashed about 20 NYPD cars' tires on March 4, 2025
NYPD
Police also said they were searching for three females and a male in their late teens who took wallets, credit cards, cellphones and cash from Manhattan for-hire drivers in at least seven different incidents in January and February.
Officials said members of the group got into cabs in East Harlem and north Midtown, distracted the drivers and snatched their wallets and other valuables from the center consoles.
In one instance on East 117th Street and Madison Avenue on Jan. 21, police said, one of the teens sprayed an unknown substance in a 30-year-old driver’s face before taking $1,500 and a debit card.
First responders treated the driver at the scene, according to officials. Police said none of the other drivers were injured in the string of robberies.
Police said all four suspects appeared to be between 17 and 19 years old.
The suspects police said they were looking for in a string of robberies of for-hire drivers in Manhattan in January and February 2025
NYPD
Earlier this year, the NYPD put out a call for the public’s help in finding three people officials said stole phones, cash and other valuables from ride-hail drivers in more than 20 incidents across Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.
Police have not announced any arrests in those incidents, according to publicly available information.
This is a developing story based on preliminary information from police and may be updated.
Tagged
new york city
manhattan
public safety
midtown
Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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