Man Steals Woman's Wallet In Astoria Church, Breaks Her Finger: Police

ASTORIA, QUEENS — A cold-hearted thief stole a woman's wallet inside an Astoria church during a service, then slapped her and broke her finger when she confronted him, police said.

The 63-year-old woman was attending a memorial service at Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church on 37th Street near Astoria Boulevard around 5 p.m. Saturday, when she noticed her wallet was missing, police said.

She then left the church and saw a man outside with her wallet in his pocket, police said.

When she confronted him, the man slapped the woman's hand, breaking her left index finger, then fled to an unknown location, police said.

The woman's wallet contained credit cards and about $30 in cash, police said. She declined medical attention at the scene but later went to an urgent care clinic in the Bronx, according to police.

Police are now seeking the man, releasing surveillance video Wednesday that shows him jogging down a sidewalk on Astoria Boulevard and clutching the red wallet. Authorities described him as a man in his 40s, about 5 feet 9 inches tall with a medium build and short brown hair, wearing glasses.

He was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, black jacket, blue jeans and gray sneakers, and holding the wallet, police said.

Police asked anyone with information to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). People can also submit tips online or on Twitter, @NYPDTips.