NEW SPRINGVILLE — Instead of playing a game about being criminals, cops said these three Staten Islanders became real ones.
The trio was arrested early Tuesday after posing as cops to cut a long line at the midnight release of "Grand Theft Auto V" at the Staten Island Mall to purchase the game, the Staten Island Advance reported.
Kirolos Abdel Sayed, 19, an auxiliary police officer, and his friends Frank Santanastaso, 19, and Matthew Kirsheh, 20, allegedly flashed a badge to get inside the mall ahead of the hundreds on line for the game, the Advance reported.
The trio then went into GameStop where Abel Sayed told an employee "I'm with the NYPD" so they could buy the highly anticipated game, the Advance reported.
The three reportedly drove off in a car with a lights-and-sirens package installed that looked like an unmarked car.
But before they could leave, they were stopped by a real cop in an unmarked car inside the mall parking lot, the Advance said.
The three were charged with criminal impersonation and could face up to a year in prison if found guilty.
The latest in the popular ultraviolent series of video games, "GTA V" lets players control three criminals who try to shoot, stab and rob their way to riches in a fictional city based on Los Angeles.
Analysts predict the game will generate $1 billion in sales and game critics have given it rave reviews.
