Give Cash To Precinct Or Leave Queens, Fake Cop Tells Man: NYPD

ASTORIA, QUEENS — A man impersonating a cop told an Astoria man to give money to his local precinct or leave the borough last month, police say. The fake cop walked up to the 30-year-old victim's house near 34th Street and Broadway around 7 p.m. Sept. 13 with a shield around his neck, the NYPD said.

The would-be thief identified himself as a police officer and told the man to donate money to the 114th Precinct, or else he better get out of Queens, the NYPD said.

The man didn't get away with any cash, according to an NYPD spokesman.

Surveillance video captured the imposter officer, who's described as a Hispanic man standing about 5-foot-11 with a heavy build and light complexion. He has short black hair and a long black beard and was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, black jeans and tan shoes, police said.

Anyone with information about the incident can call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-577-8477 or 1-888-577-4782 to leave a tip in Spanish. New Yorkers can also text tips to 274637 or submit them online at nypdcrimestoppers.com.

(Lead image: Cops are searching for a man who impersonated a cop and tried to threaten money out of an Astoria man last month. Photo and video courtesy of the NYPD)