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Read the press release here.

Pickpockets Strike in Rego Park Shopping Center, Police Say

By Smriti Rao | May 22, 2012 2:41pm
One of the suspects in a series of thefts at the Rego Center Mall.
One of the suspects in a series of thefts at the Rego Center Mall.
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NYPD

QUEENS — Cops are on the hunt for a trio of crooks accused of picking the pockets of unsuspecting Rego Park shoppers by bumping into them and then going on a spending spree with their stolen credit cards.

The incidents took place at the Rego Center Mall on Junction and Queens boulevards targeting shoppers during the afternoon hours, police said.

In the first case, a 63-year old man was shopping at 4:30 pm on May 6 when he was distracted by one of the suspects, police said.

Another suspect then bumped into the elderly victim and cleaned out his pockets, swiping his wallet, which contained credit cards, according to the NYPD. One of the cards was later used at a nearby department store, cops added.

The next day, cops said the group used the same ploy — bumping into a 34-year old woman at 3:30 p.m. and swiping her wallet. One of the vicitm's cards was also used to fuel a shopping trip, cops said.

An hour later, the suspects struck again, grabbing a 43-year-old woman's purse.

One of the suspects was described as a 30-year-old man with short, straight black hair with a dyed blond streak on one side. The name "Rickey" is tattooed on the side of his neck, according to the cops.

Both of his alleged female accomplices have short black hair, police said. Cops said one of the accomplices was in her 40s with a light complexion, while the other was said to be in her 30s. 

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS, log onto www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637(CRIMES) and enter TIP577.