The NYPD is warning New Yorkers of a widespread jewelry scam targeting seniors in the five boroughs, where suspects steal gold jewelry from kindhearted older adults who are sweet-talked into supposedly helping them.
The NYPD is warning New Yorkers of a widespread jewelry scam robbing seniors of their gold throughout the five boroughs.an uptick in scams in which suspects swiped necklaces and rings right off kindhearted older adults who were sweet-talked into supposedly helping them when lost.
According to NYPD Lieutenant Kevin Kelly, the perpetrators — who included three Romanian nationals arrested on robbery charges previously — have targeted seniors at their homes or while walking down the sidewalk. The grifters stopped the seniors and asked for directions. Cops said they would then offer a purportedly expensive necklace to them as a thank-you for their assistance. But while placing the necklace on the seniors’ necks, Kelly noted, the crooks would take their actual belongings.
“Generally they’re asking for directions, or they see the person with jewelry, and they say, ‘My mother or my father had similar jewelry. ’ Oh, you know, they start telling them personal stories, and now they want to thank them. I want to give you a blessing. I want to give you a gift,” Kelly said, explaining the MO.
“We’ve seen an uptick. And of course, with the summer months, people are wearing their jewelry. ”The NYPD is warning New Yorkers of a widespread jewelry scam robbing seniors of their gold throughout the five boroughs. In one Queens case, on March 13, police said a 22-year-old woman walked up to the home of a 76-year-old woman near 210th Street and 9th Avenue in Whitestone.
She asked the victim for directions before removing a necklace worth $3,000. The thief was later identified as Stefania Alexandru of Romania. Police said she was cuffed in the confines of 108th Precinct in Long Island City on March 25 when she allegedly stole another chain, this time valued at $2,500, from a 69-year-old woman in the area. She was charged with grand larceny.
Alleged cohorts, 34-year-old Stefan Alexandru and 35-year-old Claudia Lincan, were also charged with grand larceny. While police ultimately arrested Alexandru and her crew, they say they are not the only ones out there performing these lucrative scams. In an April 2 incident, a white SUV pulled up outside of 63-84 Saunders St. in Rego Park and asked a 64-year-old woman for directions.
During the interaction, the unknown crook stole a necklace worth $900, and the victim walked away, not even realizing that she had been robbed.
“Generally, they’re in cars. We’ve seen a lot of rental cars with out-of-state plates. And sometimes children are in the car as well, and it’s all for distraction,” Kelly said. Police say these scams originated in Queens and Brooklyn but have rapidly spread to all five boroughs.
“Don’t let people get too close to you. Absolutely do not let people put their arms on you, especially around your neck and your shoulder area, back up. Move away. Walk away.
You know, stay alert,” Kelly said.
“Just know that this is happening. ”In an April 2nd incident, a white SUV pulled up outside of 63-84 Saunders Street in Flushing and asked a 64-year-old woman for directions. Dean Moses is the Police Bureau Chief at amNewYork and resident photographer. He leads coverage of the NYPD, crime, criminal justice, and breaking news.
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Jewelry Scam Senior Scam Sweet-Talk Perpetrators Romanian Nationals NYPD Whitestone 9Th Avenue 108Th Precinct Long Island City Claudia Lincan Stefan Alexandru Stefania Alexandru
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