A group of thieves stole thousands worth of goods from department stores like Nike and Jack Rabbit in Upper East Side Manhattan, police say.
The robberies took place at least three times since June and involved a gang of at least 10 men, appearing in their 20’s, running into several shops, grabbing items and darting out the door with them.
The incidents were each captured on surveillance video, while authorities have yet to identify the crooks shown responsible.
NYPD Police are looking for a group of 10 young men in a series of quick-hitting thefts at sneaker stores on the Upper East Side
The group of thieves are believed to be in their late teens to early 20
They have hit a Nike store and a Jack Rabbit store on Third Avenue at least three times since June, swiping up to $2,500 in merchandise each time
Surveillance video from one of the shops shows the group flooding the store while carrying shopping bags, then grabbing stuff and running out the door
Residents described the crime spree as ‘shocking’ in an interview with NBC New York
An employee inside the store during the time of one of the break-ins can be seen attempting to stop the men, but his efforts were unsuccessful.
Residents near in area said the continuous crimes were ‘shocking’ when speaking to NBC New York recently.
‘It rattles you a little bit, you want to make sure you’re living in a safe area,’ resident Jaryd Lindheim said.
‘They see it as, do it by the masses and it probably gives them a higher probability of getting out,’ he added.
The robberies took place between E 62nd Street and Third Avenue
It’s possible the group of men are walking around the same area and near other stores on Third Avenue
Police say the repeated robberies worked because the men walked into the stores in large numbers
Anyone with further clues on the matter is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers
‘It’s just horrible, it’s unacceptable,’ another resident said. ‘I can’t believe this is happening in my neighborhood.’
Police say the men have been able to pull off the repeated robberies because they enter the shops in large numbers.
They were able to complete one of the robberies in just 11 seconds.
‘For them, they see it as, do it by the masses and it probably gives them a higher probability of getting out,’ said Jaryd Lindheim, who lives in the neighborhood
The men completed one of the robberies in just 11 seconds
‘For them, they see it as do it by the masses and it probably gives them a higher probability of getting out,’ a New Yorker said
None of the men have been identified as police continue to search
‘For them, they see it as do it by the masses and it probably gives them a higher probability of getting out,’ a New Yorker said, after watching the footage.
Anyone with further clues on the matter is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
It’s likely the group of men will visit the vicinity again and enter other stores on Third Avenue.