Thieves Wanted For Snatching Phones In Forest Hills: Police

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS - Police are asking for the public's help in identifying three man they say are connected to a string of phone thefts.

On July 4, around 3:20 p.m., police say a 39-year-old woman was approached by three men near Ascan Avenue and Austin Street when one of the men pushed her and another snatched her cell phone out of her hand.

The men then ran toward Queens Boulevard, according to police.

A second incident took place July 13, this time around 11:30 a.m., when police say the same three men approached a 45-year-old woman from behind near 63rd Avenue and 99th Street.

The men stole the woman's cell phone out of her hand before again running off toward Queens Boulevard, police said.

No injuries were reported on either occasion.

Police have described one of the suspects as a black man of dark complexion between 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-9, 130 to 140 pounds, and he was last seen wearing a gray shirt, gray shorts, white sneakers and a camouflage headband.

A second suspect is described as a black man of dark complexion between 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-9, 130 to 140 pounds, last seen wearing a black-and-white shirt, darkly colored jeans and darkly colored sneakers, police say.

The third suspect is described as a Hispanic man of medium complexion between 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-9, 130 to 140 pounds, and according to police was last seen wearing a darkly colored shirt, gray shorts, darkly colored sneakers and a tattoo on his outer forearm.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS or 888-57-PISTA for Spanish.

Tips can also be submitted by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or texting tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and then entering TIP577.

Lead image via Pete Stewart/Surveillance photos courtesy of NYPD