Taxi, Uber, and Lyft drivers in Ridgewood, beware. Your car could be the next target of a criminal menace(s) out there smashing windows and stealing the stuff inside.
Since late December, 57 reports of broken car windows have been made to Ridgewood cops, who said 56 of them came from drivers with TLC plates — the abbreviation meaning that the driver has a license from the Taxi and Limousine Commission. In six of those cases, items such as credit cards and electronics were removed from the cars.
According to cops, all the incidents have happened in the areas between Myrtle and Flushing Avenue or Forest and Cypress Avenue.
While police aren’t sure yet whether one mischief-maker or many are responsible for all of the reported cases, surveillance video taken on Seneca Avenue shows a suspect leave his Nissan Altima, approach a black Toyota Camry with a TLC plate, and use an unknown object to break the rear driver-side window.
The individual below is #WANTED for criminal mischief to multiple TLC vehicles. The individual was observed operating a silver Nissan Altima. If you have any information contact our Detective Squad (718) 386-2723 #YourCityYourCall pic.twitter.com/RHKeYQFKGy
— NYPD 104th Precinct (@NYPD104Pct) January 9, 2018
Anyone with information is encourage to call NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS or submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website.
Cover image courtesy of Gustavo Belemmi