In a major crackdown, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) arrested seven migrants, with more at large, in connection with a citywide robbery pattern targeting unsuspecting pedestrians for their cellphones.
The arrest, part of an ongoing investigation, occurred during an early morning raid on Monday in the Allerton section of the Bronx, resulting in the recovery of stolen goods.
Police believe the arrested individuals are part of a larger criminal enterprise responsible for more than 60 cellphone robberies across the city.
The criminal enterprise, known for using scooters and mopeds for snatch-and-grab robberies, focused on stealing iPhones and wallets from pedestrians on the sidewalk. The stolen phones were allegedly sold to a ringleader, who employed a tech expert to hack into the devices and access victims' financial information.
Police Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny revealed that the stolen phones were sometimes shipped to Colombia for reprogramming, resulting in fraudulent purchases in the United States (US) and Central America. The thefts amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The alleged ringleader, 30-year-old Victor Parra, a recent migrant from Venezuela who arrived in November, remains at large. The NYPD has identified him as the mastermind behind the criminal network.
The NYPD named eight suspects in connection with the criminal ring, with warrants issued for three individuals still on the run.
The investigation, which culminated in Monday's raid, revealed that the suspects predominantly lived in city-run migrant shelters. Authorities are also investigating possible human trafficking at the said shelters.
Police Commissioner Edward Caban highlighted the challenges posed by the lack of a paper trail for the suspects, making it difficult for law enforcement to verify their identities. The arrested individuals reportedly had no criminal records in the US and no social media presence.
Despite the challenges posed by the suspects' elusive nature, the NYPD is determined to apprehend those at large, with the department's warrant squad actively pursuing further arrests and building cases against remaining suspects.
Read Also: New York's Finest Going Old School: NYPD Brings Back Facial Hair Ban, Traditional Uniforms
Mayor Adams Opposes Stigmatization of Migrants for Actions of Few
NYC Mayor Eric Adams, accompanying police officers during the arrests, emphasized that the criminal actions of a few individuals should not tarnish the image of the broader migrant community seeking a better life in the US.
"Over 175,000 migrants and asylum seekers that have arrived here, this is 12 people," he said. "So any New Yorker that looks at those who are trying to fulfill their next step on the American dream as criminals, that is wrong."
Adams underscored the administration's commitment to welcoming asylum seekers but stressed that criminal behavior would be dealt with severely.
"This is not about migrants and asylum seekers. It's about criminals who committed a crime," the mayor said. "And we would treat criminals the same if they're longstanding New Yorkers, or if they just arrived here last year. These are criminals that we brought to justice,"
Mayor Adams emphasized the broader issue of illegal scooter use in the city, revealing that the NYPD seized over 2,500 illegal mopeds and scooters in 2023 alone, a 74% increase from the previous year.
The mayor also emphasized the need for a national solution to combat similar challenges faced by major cities across the US, pointing out that the majority of migrants want to contribute to society.
"The overwhelming number of migrants and asylum seekers want to work. They want to contribute to our society," Adams said. "They believe we have put a pause on their progression on contributing to our society. We should not in any way take these criminals and state that they are the indicators of the people who are here."
While the arrests aim to curb the criminal activities of the identified individuals, city officials underscored the importance of differentiating between law-abiding migrants and those engaging in criminal behavior. The investigation remains ongoing, with the NYPD committed to bringing all involved individuals to justice.
