MANHATTAN — Things are getting sticky for the "Vaseline Burglar."
Cops have identified a prowler who is wanted for a rash of break-ins Uptown in which the suspect covered his tracks with Vaseline.
Sources said that a witness identified the suspect, Luis Gonzalez, 40. But police did not immediately have further information about him.
In the unusual spree, the suspect allegedly smeared the peepholes of his victims' neighbors using a smear of petroleum jelly, police said.
The spree, in which the prowler generally broke through the front door of his marks, began in September 2011 and stretched from Harlem to Inwood.
In most cases, he made off with electronics, jewelry or cash.
The prolific thief allegedly struck multiple times on October 11, February 13 and most recently on March 8.
On that day, he broke into four homes between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m., making off with computers, bicentennial coins and even a carton of Marlboro cigarettes.
But his last attempt, at 2 p.m. on West 187th Street, he tried to force a door open but was unsuccessful, police said.
According to the cops, the suspect was clean shaven and carrying a cane.
An army of cops descended on a home on West 187th Street Monday night when a prowler was spotted there, but the suspect in that case, did not match the Vaseline bandit's M.O.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS(8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
