QUEENS — Three men wanted for a string of grand larcenies in Queens — targeting drivers with a phony flat tire scheme before swiping property from their cars — have expanded their scam to Brooklyn and Manhattan, police said.
The suspects pulled their ploy four more times between February and March, according to the NYPD, on top of a dozen incidents recorded in Queens between August and February.
Cops say one of the suspects distracts the victim by telling them their car has a flat tire. When the victim goes to check, the two other suspects steal items from the car.
On more than one occasion the thieves seemed to be disguising themselves as construction workers, sporting vests and holding a white bucket, and in several instances offered to help the motorists with a can of Fix-a-Flat, police said.
The most recent theft took place March 27 in Brooklyn, near Withers Street and Union Avenue in Greenpoint, when the three men swiped money from a suspect's jacket while he was changing a flat tire.
The men also struck in Sheepshead Bay on Feb. 22, the Upper East Side on March 11 and in Ozone Park on March 23.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto Crime Stoppers' website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577.
