NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – A thieving duo distracted a UPS driver on the Bowery to steal a package containing $163,000 in jewelry, police said—and investigators have linked them to at least two similar thefts in the boroughs.
The felonious pair targeted the delivery driver back in September, but police just released image of the suspects Wednesday as the investigation intensifies.
The driver was outside 82 Bowery in Chinatown around 2 p.m. on Sept. 20 when the crooks used a distraction to steal the pricey package from the back of the truck.
Police have also connected them to two thefts in Queens and Hell’s Kitchen about a week earlier on Sept. 12.
The first theft was at 2:40 p.m. in Murray Hill, where a 48-year-old woman was targeted as she was checking her car tire at 159th Street and Northern Boulevard. The suspects snuck up, removed a package from the vehicle and fled on foot, police said.
Less than three hours later, they struck in Hell’s Kitchen as a 33-year-old man was changing his car tire at West 46th Street and 11th Avenue, according to police. While he was distracted, they allegedly grabbed a bag containing jewelry from his car. The value of the jewelry wasn’t immediately clear.
No injuries were reported in the three thefts, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.