NYC thief in Amazon vest swipes packages, punches employee

A thief disguised as an Amazon employee fought a Queens constructing worker as he stole an armful of packages from the placement’s foyer, police stated, in simply the most recent of a rising development of supply robberies plaguing the Large Apple.

The brazen criminal — carrying an Amazon supply vest — struck at round 10:18 a.m. on Nov. 9 at a constructing close to 44^th Avenue and 84^th Road, the place he was caught on digicam carrying bins from the constructing’s widespread area, cops revealed Wednesday.

The 49-year-old superintendent who was clocked within the face by the thief, stated the incident was the identical story “occurring all over the place” within the metropolis.

“Crime is escalating,” the tremendous, who recognized himself as Tom, informed The Submit. “Why not do it, if there is no such thing as a repercussion? Crime is exploding, and at what level does it cease? It’s getting worse and we’d like options.”

Whereas the criminal was nonetheless at massive with an undetermined quantity of loot, members of the constructing business stated the crime was simply certainly one of a sample they really feel is being fueled by lax penalties for such offenses. 

“Persons are conscious of these no-punishment [policies] for decrease stage crimes,” stated Andrzej, a constructing tremendous from Queens, who requested that his final title not be used.

“And alternatively, if a police officer goes to arrest somebody, he already is aware of that OK, he’s gonna lose an hour, an hour and a half to do the report and every thing,” he added. “And that particular person is gonna just about stroll out of the precinct ahead of he finishes the report — it’s type of discouraging then to do their job.”

The issue can be being brought on by rising reliance on on-line purchasing – and more and more subtle crooks, constructing managers stated. 

Within the case of the phony Amazon employee, the wrongdoer rode into the storage on a bicycle whereas a resident was driving out. From there, he had entry to the bundle room, Tom stated.

“I’m certain he’s been right here earlier than, as a result of he knew the place to go,” he stated. “Any person had informed me they noticed somebody within the constructing, taking issues, after which I noticed packages have been lacking from the bundle room. I noticed him within the storage, he was making an attempt to take extra stuff, and I assume we had no alternative [but fight].”

One in seven People have seen no less than one supply bundle stolen by means of 2022 up to now, a current examine by C+R Analysis stated. Individuals who reside in cities usually tend to be victims of porch pirates, the examine stated, though precise variety of packages stolen in New York Metropolis wasn’t clear.

Supply-package theft is an issue all year long in Gotham, however residents are on excessive alert in the course of the vacation season with 84% of People plan to have no less than one bundle delivered this 12 months, the examine stated. Some 28% stated they deliberate to buy extra on-line this 12 months than in 2021, the examine stated.

MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle posted Nest video on Twitter on Tuesday exhibiting she had been a sufferer of a porch pirate, who got here in by means of a gate in her New York Metropolis dwelling and took objects from close to a entrance door.

“To whomever stole the packages in entrance of my door, I hope you might have good use for my daughter’s Christmas present costume,” she wrote. “It’s too late to get one other & she might be completely heartbroken & should you get actually sweaty in sports activities garments you stole- that’s not sweat. It’s child’s tears.”

As bundle thefts grew to become widespread in unlocked constructing vestibules, many managers within the 5 boroughs put in business-access supply programs in order that packages could possibly be left in secured areas as an alternative of within the unlocked foyers. Amazon additionally makes use of dropoff lockers the place orders will be picked up.

However the issues proceed, Andrzej stated.

“Typically they do go away the bundle within the foyers, so just about anybody can have entry to the foyers,” he stated. Packages are sometimes delivered to the unsuitable constructing too, making them extra inclined to getting swiped, he added.

“What we expertise right here, most certainly, a whole lot of trainees being placed on these routes and that’s the place the issue is,” he informed The Submit. “The packages are being left in a distinct location, that’s what we really feel is the issue.’

The Submit has reached out to Amazon for remark.

Some thieves have been utilizing inventive methods to get into buildings the place bins could also be saved, resembling one serial robber who used a bank card to get by means of locked entrance doorways. Jeffrey Lopez, 50, who had 69 prior arrests, was busted in April for stealing a bundle from a constructing on East 90^th Road, about three months after he was booked on 5 counts on the identical cost.

That very same month, a 60-year-old man was bludgeoned with a brick exterior a Harlem constructing when he confronted a lady he believed was snatching packages from the foyer. The sufferer was hospitalized with extreme lacerations in that caught-on-video confrontation.