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Thief Swipes Purses From Luna Park Roller Coaster Riders, Police Say

By Gwynne Hogan | May 26, 2015 7:03pm
 Police say this man took six unattended bags at a Luna Park storage facility while their owners were on roller coasters.
Police say this man took six unattended bags at a Luna Park storage facility while their owners were on roller coasters.
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NYPD

BROOKLYN — Roller coaster riders, beware — a thief has been targeting unattended purses at Luna Park storage areas while patrons are on rides, police said.

Police are on the hunt for a man they said has taken belongings from six different patrons at the Coney Island amusement park since the beginning of this month, the NYPD said.

The thief targeted the bags of park attendees while they rode the Steeplechase, Soarin Eagle and Windstar rides, police said. 

The first victim was a 23-year-old woman on May 2, police said.

The thief struck again on May 10 at 6 p.m., taking belongings from two women. The following weekend, on May 17, the man nabbed purses from two other women, police said.

And this past Saturday, he stole from a 39-year-old woman, according to the NYPD.

Police had no further details about the bags or value of the property the man had taken.

Angie Morris, a spokeswoman from Luna Park, said that the thefts were "isolated incidents" and that the purses were taken from open cubbies, not from the secure lockers that the Park suggests visitors should keep objects of value in.

Still following the thefts, Morris said the park was cooperating with the local precinct and beefing up surveillance.

"We have increased our security efforts by installing more cameras and patrols by our security personnel," she said. "Luna Park will continue to make adjustments in order to ensure that guests always have the most enjoyable and safest experience."

Anyone with information about the thefts can call 1-800-577-TIPS or visit the Crime Stoppers website.