Queens Thief Burns Man With Coffee After Swiping His Wallet: NYPD

WOODSIDE, QUEENS -- A thief found herself in some hot water after she was caught stealing a man's wallet in Queens, so used a scalding pot of coffee to escape, police said.

The woman swiped a man's wallet in Woodside near 64 Street and 39 Avenue at around 5 a.m. on May 28, authorities said. He wasn't letting go without a fight.

The man chased the woman down the street until she took the $250 cash inside and dropped the wallet, cops said. He followed her into Robin Grocery & News Inc., a nearby convenience store, where the two began to wrestle for the money.

Police said the woman then poured a pot of hot coffee down the man's back and neck before she is shown on surveillance footage walking out of the convenience store, heels in hand.

Medics rushed the man to a local hospital, where he was treated for third-degree burns.

The NYPD released surveillance photos of the woman, who was last seen wearing a black mesh shirt over a black bra and ripped black pants.

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 photos and video via NYPD