Chelsea Moped-Riding Purse Snatchers Tied To 20+ Thefts, NYPD Says

CHELSEA, NY - A moped-riding duo accused of snatching a woman’s purse from under her nose in Chelsea has been linked to nearly two dozen purse and wallet grabs this month, police said.

The reported incidents span from Oct. 2 to Oct. 22 and occurred in Chelsea, East Village, Midtown and the Upper East Side, police said. All victims in the 22 reported crimes were women.

The crime spree began in the Flatiron District, according to police, when the duo snatched a 29-year-old woman’s wallet near East 23rd Street and Park Avenue on Oct. 2 about 12:35 p.m., police said.

On Oct. 8 at about 1:50 p.m., the duo grabbed a 62-year-old woman’s handbag near West 29 Street and Ninth Avenue, police said. A third Chelsea incident was reported on Oct. 15, when a 44-year-old woman saw her purse snatched near 244 West 29 St. about 1:25 p.m.

The latest incident came on Oct. 22 about 12:51 p.m., when a 25-year-old saw her purse snatched by the moped riders near 29th Street and Lexington Avenue, police said.

No physical injuries were reported by any of the victims, police said.

Anyone with information in regard to the incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

WANTED GRAND LARCENY PATTERN: In October there were 22 incidents in the borough of Manhattan. The unidentified individuals while operating mopeds approach female victims & snatch their purses. Any info call us at 800-577-TIPS or anonymously post a tip on our website pic.twitter.com/IcYr0C9M6T
— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) October 26, 2023