Dirt Biker Is Snatching Necklaces In Washington Heights, Cops Say

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — The New York Police Department is looking for a man wanted in connection with a string of 12 necklace robberies that took place in October and November — nine of which were in Washington Heights.

NYPD released details Wednesday afternoon about the robberies, which took place between Oct. 2 and Nov. 10.

In all the cases, the man was riding a red-and-white dirt bike in the moments before he snatched the victim's necklaces, police said.

In total, the man on the red-and-white bike stole $4,900 worth of necklaces from people in Washington Heights. He was not successful in all of his attempts to rip the jewelry off the victim's neck.

The other attempted robberies took place in the Bronx.

Here's the police report breakdown of all the robberies that took place in Washington Heights.

Incident #1 (33 Pct): On Saturday, October 2, 2021, at approximately 2315 hours, an unidentified male individual riding a red and white dirt bike snatched a 28-year-old female victim's yellow metal necklace from her neck while on the corner of West 157th Street and Saint Nicholas Avenue in Manhattan. There were no injuries reported as a result of this incident. The estimated value of the necklace removed was approximately $500.

Incident #2 (33 Pct): On Thursday, October 7, 2021, at approximately 1905 hours, an unidentified male individual riding a red and white dirt bike snatched a 38-year-old male victim's yellow metal necklace from his neck while in front of 600 West 168th Street in Manhattan. There were no injuries reported as a result of this incident. The estimated value of the necklace removed was approximately $600.

Incident #4 (33 Pct): On Friday, October 8, 2021, at approximately 1510 hours, an unidentified male individual riding a red and white dirt bike snatched a 31-year-old female victim's yellow metal necklace from her neck while in front of 473 West 158th Street in Manhattan. There were no injuries reported as a result of this incident. The estimated value of the necklace removed was approximately $300.

Incident #6 (33 Pct): On Wednesday, November 10, 2021, at approximately 1035 hours, an unidentified male individual riding a red and white dirt bike snatched a 48-year-old male victim's yellow metal necklace from his neck while on the northeast corner of West 173rd Street and Audubon Avenue in Manhattan. The victim sustained redness and swelling to the neck but refused medical attention at the scene. The estimated value of the necklace removed was approximately $1,200.

Incident #7 (33 Pct): On Wednesday, November 10, 2021, at approximately 1037 hours, an unidentified male individual riding a red and white dirt bike snatched a 42-year-old male victim's yellow metal necklace while in front of 526 West 174th Street in Manhattan. The victim sustained redness and scratches to his neck but refused medical attention at the scene. The estimated value of the necklace removed was approximately $800.

Incident #8 (33 Pct): On Wednesday, November 10, 2021, at approximately 1035 hours, an unidentified male individual riding a red and white dirt bike snatched a 50-year-old female victim's yellow metal necklace while on the northeast corner of West 178th Street and Audubon Avenue in Manhattan. The victim sustained redness to her neck area but refused medical attention at the scene. The estimated value of the necklace removed was approximately $1,500.

Incident #9 (33 Pct): On Wednesday, November 10, 2021, at approximately 1630 hours, an unidentified male individual riding a red and white dirt bike attempted to forcibly snatch a 24-year-old female victim's yellow metal necklace from her neck while on the corner of West 158th Street and Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan. The victim sustained a small laceration to her left shoulder but refused medical attention at the scene.

Incident #10 (33 Pct): On Wednesday, November 10, 2021, at approximately 1630 hours, an unidentified male individual riding a red and white dirt bike attempted to snatch a 32-year-old female victim's yellow metal necklace and purse from around her neck while in front of 161 Fort Washington Avenue in Manhattan. There were no injuries reported as a result of this incident.

Incident #11 (33 Pct): On Wednesday, November 10, 2021, at approximately 1630 hours, an unidentified male individual riding a red and white dirt bike attempted to forcibly snatch a 55-year-old male victim's yellow metal necklace from his neck while on the southwest corner of West 158th Street and Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan. The victim sustained a small laceration to his left shoulder but refused medical attention at the scene.

Anyone with information in regard to this 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).