Search Continues For Robbery Suspects Posing As Cops On Staten Island
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The search continues for two men who police say are pretending to be cops to steal from innocent victims on Staten Island.
Police say the men have struck three times in New Dorp since July.
The first incident happened around 2 a.m. on July 12. Police said the suspects followed two men in their 20s in a white Chevy Malibu on Midland Avenue near Grimsby Street telling them, "Police, get against the wall," CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported.
The men pulled out a gun, took $300 in cash and then drove off, police said.
Later that night, one of the suspects approached a 57-year-old woman on Hylan Boulevard as she was putting groceries in her car and stole her credit cars, a cellphone and cash, police said.
A good Samaritan who saw the confrontation chased one suspect for two blocks on foot, only to be stopped by the suspect's alleged accomplice, cops said.
The accomplice pulled up in the same white Chevy with a walkie talkie pretending to be an officer, police said. He told the good Samaritan he had the situation under control and then the duo sped off, police said.
Investigators say the men identified themselves as officer, but were not wearing police uniforms or carrying badges, CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported.
"They're a bunch of idiots for doing it," New Dorp resident Joe Valente said. "You're going to rob people like that, pose as a police officer? That's pretty stupid."
"It's scary," said New Dorp resident Diane Velloza. "I thought it was a pretty safe area."
In another incident, just after midnight on Aug. 7, one of the men walked up to an 18-year-old man on New Dorp Lane and asked to see his identification, police said. When the victim took out his wallet, the suspect grabbed it, took out $50 in cash, gave the wallet back to the victim and fled, authorities said.
Police have released a sketch of one of the suspects as well as surveillance video of their car from the first incident on July 12.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS, visit the Crime Stoppers website or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and enter TIP577.
