Teen Suspects Arrested For Purse Snatching Spree in Boro Park and its Environs

By Matis Glenn

Two teenagers were arrested Tuesday with the help of Shomrim for an alleged drive-by purse snatching spree in Boro Park and its surrounding areas on Monday, plus an additional incident occurring Tuesday.

Police and Shomrim were searching for the suspects, 16 and 17 years old, who are accused of driving around Boro Park and Bay Ridge on a moped and succeeding in snatching the purses of two women while failing in two other attempts.

Monday’s incidents occurred across Boro Park, including 20th Avenue, 14th Avenue, Mcdonald Avenue, and 18th Avenue.

Another victim reported to police on Tuesday that her purse was snatched on 80th Street and 5th Avenue, and both the description of the suspects and their modus operandi matched that of the pair from Monday’s incidents.

The 66th Precinct alerted Shomrim that neighboring precincts were reporting similar incidents, and that they should be on the lookout for the perpetrators.

Shomrim volunteers were scouring Boro Park Tuesday evening, when one member found the alleged thieves on 60th and 13th Avenue. He began following the pair, who drove up and down the avenues of the neighborhood, eventually circling back to where they were first spotted. Police were ready for them, including officers from neighboring precincts who had brought with them two victims from the crime spree to identify the perpetrators.

After being identified, the suspects were arrested at around 9 p.m. and charged with grand larceny.