Friendly Thief Pickpockets Man With a Hug In Queens Deli: NYPD

LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS -- What seemed like a warm embrace from a stranger inside a Long Island City deli turned out to be a pickpocket for cold, hard cash that left a man without his wallet or cell phone.

The 40-year-old man was standing inside Empire State Deli at 42-16 30 Ave. when a stranger approached him and began to chat on Dec. 30 at around 4 a.m., police said.

The suspect hugged the man before leaving the deli with the cell phone and wallet - including $100 in cash - he'd discretely swiped in the process, cops said. He fled east down 30 Avenue, authorities said.

Police described the suspect as a 5-foot-10 man around 18-21 years old, weighing about 150 pounds. He was last seen wearing a green baseball cap, a dark hooded sweater, a dark jacket and dark pants.

The individual is described as a male black, 18 to 21 years old, 5'10", 150lbs; last seen wearing a green baseball cap, a dark colored hooded sweater, a dark colored jacket and dark colored pants.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477)

Lead photo via NYPD.