A group of migrants were apprehended in the Bronx overnight on Monday for a citywide spree of theft, including the snatching of women’s phones from the streets, as per police reports.
The New York Police Department carried out a search warrant at the suspected safe house, leading to the arrests.
The seven suspects are anticipated to face charges for numerous robberies and grand larcenies, with authorities currently pursuing additional individuals.
According to authorities, all the suspects are believed to be from Venezuela.
Most migrants come to NYC in search of a better life. Sadly, some come to commit crimes.
While the rest of NYC was sleeping, @NYCMayor @NYPDChiefPatrol@NYPDDetectives joined @NYPDnews investigators & specialized teams as we carried out a search warrant — booming a door and… pic.twitter.com/PVUJid3GoM— NYPD Assistant Commissioner Kaz Daughtry (@NYPDDaughtry) February 5, 2024
The men were connected to a series of at least 62 incidents where women had their purses and phones taken, stated police.
The modus operandi involved the suspects riding up behind their victims, primarily women walking alone on sidewalks, seizing their phones or purses, and quickly fleeing, according to law enforcement.
Detectives suspect that the motive behind snatching the phones was to access the Apple Pay feature, utilizing credit cards linked to the phones for purchases in the U.S. or Central America.
Following this, the phones were reportedly sent to Colombia, where they were wiped clean, according to police reports.
“Most migrants come to NYC in search of a better life. Sadly, some come to commit crime,” NYPD Assistant Commissioner Kaz Daughtry posted on X. “Today we made tremendous progress in the largest robbery pattern plaguing our city. Our message is simple — commit a crime in our city and we will find you and bring you to justice!”
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