MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — A Long Island man arranged to sell his Rolex on social media, and when the deal went sour he jumped on the roof of a moving car in an attempt to stop a thief from getting away, the Nassau County Police Department said.
At 11:55 a.m. on Friday, a patrolling officer witnessed a gray Honda driving in reverse knock down a 43-year-old man in Massapequa, police said.
The man quickly got up and jumped on the hood of the Honda, now moving in drive, in an attempt to stop it from speeding east on Jerusalem Avenue. Police provided video footage from a nearby Ring doorbell camera showing the encounter.
A police investigation found that the victim had arranged to sell a Rolex that he advertised on social media in front of his residence, for a selling price of $8,000.
The suspect inspected the watch and agreed to purchase it, but when the victim followed the thief to the Honda to receive payment, he found the passenger-side door locked, authorities said.
The victim ran around the back of the car toward the driver’s door, at which point the scammer drove in reverse and knocked the victim to the ground.
Officials said that the 43-year-old suffered lacerations to his right knee, left elbow and left hand and was treated by EMS at the scene, while the perpetrator got off with the watch.
Police describe the suspect as 5’10”, slim build, 30-years-old and driving a gray Honda with possible Connecticut registration plates.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.