Cops Hunt Cross-Dressing Police-Impersonating Thief

Police say a man who dressed as a woman and pretended to be a cop stole a woman's wallet and debit card on March 13, 201...

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NYPD

UPPER WEST SIDE —  This fake cop likes to go deep under cover.

The suspected thief who posed as a cop and allegedly stole a woman's wallet and debit card in front of an Upper West Side Chase Bank in March is a crossdresser too, police say.

At first cops thought the suspect was a woman in her 30's, but now police believe that "she" was actually a "he," an NYPD spokesman said.

The suspect, who was wearing a gold badge on a fanny pack, told a woman outside the Chase Bank on Broadway and West 73rd Street she was a police officer, then helped herself to the victim's belongings on March 13 about 1:45 p.m.

New video surveillance footage released Wednesday shows the same suspect inside Harlem Hospital on Lenox Avenue and West 136th Street earlier the same day clearly sporting what appears to be a long black wig.

Police say the suspect entered the hospital about noon on March 13, and identified himself as a police officer. He managed to get inside the hospital's administrative offices, but didn't take anything, police said.

The suspect was last seen wearing a white cardigan layered over a black shirt, faded boot cut jeans, gold chain necklaces, and a fanny pack with a gold shield. He was carrying a large black purse and was seen wearing large sunglasses in the Chase Bank footage.

The suspect is approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall and between 125 and 130 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).  The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.