Robber Poses As Fresh Direct Deliveryman, Police Say

MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS, NY — The Fresh Direct deliveryman has become a regular presence in Manhattan's apartment buildings, and one thief is taking advantage, police say. A man is wanted in connection to three robberies committed while disguised as a Fresh Direct worker.

The robberies occurred in the northern portion of the Morningside Heights neighborhood in January and February, police said. The three buildings that were robbed are located within blocks of each other.

The crime spree began on Jan. 20 when he followed a resident inside a building on Riverside Drive and Tiemann Place, police said. Once inside the building, the robber snooped around in the lobby and swiped a package addressed to a woman who lives in the building, police said.

The man struck again on Jan. 24, police said. This time, the man entered a building on Broadway and Tiemann Place through a rear entrance and stole a package from the building's lobby, police said.

The thief's disguise as a Fresh Direct deliveryman came in handy during his third robbery, police said. The man gained access to a building on La Salle Avenue and Claremont Avenue by calling up to apartments in the building and claiming to be a deliveryman, police said. After being buzzed into the building, the man stole packages and a bicycle from the lobby, police said.

The suspect is described as a man in his 30s to 50s who was last seen wearing a black cap, a dark sweater, a dark jacket with the Fresh Direct logo on its back, dark pants and white sneakers.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Photo by NYPD