Thief Steals Car Then Lights It On Fire In Whitestone: NYPD

WHITESTONE, QUEENS -- When a 51-year-old man left his car running alone to warm up for a few minutes one brisk morning in Queens, he likely didn't foresee it would get stolen and later lit aflame.

But police said that's exactly what happened to the man's white 2003 Chevy Suburban at around 6:45 a.m. on March 24, and now they're searching for the perp behind this real-life grand theft auto.

The man left his Chevy parked and running outside a Whitestone home on Utopia Parkway near 12th Road. The thief then took his window of opportunity to hop into the car, which he drove a short ways before lighting it on fire, cops said.

The NYPD released surveillance photos of the perp, who police described as a man in his twenties. He was last seen wearing sunglasses, a dark jacket and jeans.

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.