By:  Mario Mancini

A group of thieves embarked on a bold and audacious crime spree that spanned three months, targeting upscale neighborhoods in New York City and making off with nearly ten luxury vehicles, leaving residents in shock and alarm NY Post exposed.

Operating primarily in Queens’ affluent neighborhood of Whitestone, these audacious car thieves brazenly broke into more than a dozen homes during their summer crime wave, which ran from June through August. Their loot included a Porsche, Mercedes, Range Rover, and other high-end vehicles, all stolen from driveways in Queens and Brooklyn.

These criminal acts unfolded in the early hours of the morning, often catching homeowners unaware while they slumbered inside their homes. The gang, consisting of groups of four and three, occasionally expanded their operation to other neighborhoods like Bayside, Jamaica Estates, Holliswood, Manhattan Beach, and Bay Ridge.

The gang’s spree began on June 2 at a home near Point Crescent, but they were promptly chased away by the vigilant homeowner before they could make off with any valuables. Later that month, they attempted burglaries at two other homes but were foiled on both occasions, once by a homeowner and another time by a blaring security alarm.

Their successful heists began on July 21, when they targeted a residence near 222nd Street and 41st Road in Queens at 1 a.m. During this burglary, they managed to steal various items, including an Audi SUV. The very next day, four members of the gang absconded with a BMW sedan from a house near 291st Street and 38th Avenue in Queens.

Their crime spree continued unabated as they pilfered a Range Rover SUV and a Porsche from a home near Cambridge Road and Somerset Street. They struck again just a day later, making away with jewelry, clothing, cash, and yet another Mercedes Benz, this time from a home near Ridge Boulevard and 77th Street in Brooklyn.

Throughout the month of July, the gang continued their spree, grabbing clothes, a Genesis sedan, and another BMW SUV. At times, they fled empty-handed when the blaring home alarm system caught them by surprise.

The police have made some headway in recovering the stolen vehicles, including the BMW sedan, a Mercedes Benz sedan, and the Genesis sedan. However, several high-end cars remain missing, and the audacious thieves are still at large.

Despite a decline in overall burglaries across New York City compared to the previous year, car thefts have surged by approximately 19% year over year, according to NYPD crime data.

In response to these brazen crimes, the NYPD has released images of the suspected criminals and has urged anyone with information about the carjacking spree to come forward. They can reach out to the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish speakers, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). As the investigation continues, residents of these upscale neighborhoods remain on edge, hoping for a swift resolution to this unsettling series of events.