Moped Riding Thieves Continue to Plague NYC
Four police officers are filling out paperwork after an apparent stop of a scooter rider outside of 91 Van Cortlandt Avenue West. However, the NYPD had no record of the incident that took place on January 15. -Photo by David Greene
By David Greene
Bronx Voice
February 16, 2024
BRONX - As Manhattan cops were suiting up before a raid on a Bronx-based scooter gang wanted for dozens of robberies across the city, a duo of scooter bandits broke into a Morris Heights bodega and stole $100,000 from the cash register.
The United Bodegas of America (UBA) is offering a $10,000 reward for information on the two moped-riding bandits who broke into the Los Castillos Market, located at 1601 University Avenue. The break in took place in the early morning hours of February 5.
Market owner Carlos Castillo stated after the theft, “I’m going crazy trying to figure out what happened. This is my life, it’s the money I had to pay for the monthly expenses. Why me!” Castillo added, “All I do is work like an animal 7 days a week 12-to-15-hour days to support my family. I have no insurance for this loss.”
Radahmes Rodriguez, the President of the UBA said of the growing problem of scooter crimes, “We need to stop the scooter crews who have taken over our city. These illegal scooters must be taken off the streets.”
Rodriguez added, “We never had a scooter crisis in New York City and now they are everywhere. It’s an easy escape from police when they travel in pairs.”
Fernando Mateo, a spokesman for the UBA announced a $10,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the scooter-riding bandits. Mateo said, “They break in and break out on scooters. They are organized and feel empowered by bail reform.”
Hours after the robbery, Mayor Eric Adams joined police officials as they announced an early morning raid in the Bronx earlier that day that Adams himself participated in. During the early morning raid at NYCHA’s Parkside Houses in the Allerton section, police announced the arrest of 9 individuals wanted in connection with 62 robberies across every borough but Staten Island.
According to Adams and police officials, the scooter bandits would work in teams, driving on sidewalks and snatching cell phones and other valuables. The phones would then be brought to the Parkside Houses where hackers would steal banking info before the phones were sent to Colombia where they would be reprogrammed.
During the press conference Adams said, “These individuals do not have a license to steal in our city. Mopeds and scooters are being used for crimes and harming innocent people. And I want to be clear, again. The law is coming for those who use mopeds illegally.”
Police released the names of seven individuals charged in connection with the scooter crime network: Yan Jimenez, 25, of Manhattan; Anthony Ramos, 33, Manhattan; Richard Saledo, 20, and Beike Jimenez, 21, both of Allerton Avenue; Maria Manaura, 32, of Manhattan; Cleyber Andrade, 20, of Brooklyn; Juan Uzcatgui, 23, of Manhattan.
The Bronx District Attorney announced the names of two additional suspects charged in connection to this scooter-bandit gang: Alexander Dayker, 20, and Roxanna Sahos, 24. The NYPD continues to investigate.
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