NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — The NYPD is investigating a coordinated moped gang wanted in a month-long wave of robberies across Brooklyn and Queens, targeting 29 pedestrians for their chains.
The spree spanned over a dozen neighborhoods—including Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Astoria, Flushing, and Hunters Point—frequently striking multiple victims within minutes.
According to the NYPD, the pattern began on June 15, when riders on a moped ambushed a 27-year-old man at Purves Street and Jackson Avenue in Queens, forcibly ripping a chain from his neck.
The suspects aggressively targeted victims ranging in age from a 14 to 80. On July 5 and July 10, the crew executed rapid-fire sprees, hitting up to five different neighborhoods in a single day.
At approximately 11:15 a.m. on July 10, the thieves cornered a 20-year-old man on Liberty Avenue in Queens, brandished a firearm, and forcibly stole his chain before speeding off. Within 15 minutes of that armed assault, the crew attempted two more chain snatches on nearby 101 Avenue and Jamaica Avenue, officials said.
The gang has also branched out into vehicular theft, violently robbing a moped rider of his vehicle on July 1 and stealing an unattended motorcycle on July 4, cops said.
Police have arrested a 17-year-old boy in connection with at least seven of the incidents. He faces multiple counts of grand larceny and robbery.
Authorities continue to hunt for the remaining suspects.
