In a significant development, law enforcement officers in the Bronx have apprehended two individuals connected with a series of bold cellphone thefts perpetrated by a moped-riding gang across New York City. The suspects, named by police as 19-year-old Cleyber Andrade and 23-year-old Juan Uzcatgui, have been implicated in 62 grand larceny cases that span the city’s boroughs.
According to police sources, the group to which Andrade and Uzcatgui are allegedly affiliated has gained notoriety for its brazen thefts, including an incident where a 62-year-old woman was viciously robbed, resulting in her being dragged down a street in Brooklyn. This attack, among others, has been captured on video, causing public alarm and prompting an intensified crackdown by the NYPD.
The police are actively pursuing the alleged instigator of these criminal activities, Victor Parra, a 30-year-old Bronx resident. Parra, identified as a Venezuelan migrant, was previously arrested for grand larceny but was released by a judge in December. The NYPD has intensified efforts to recapture him following claims that he has enlisted accomplices to conduct thefts on his behalf.
NYPD Inspector Nicholas Fiore addressed the issue at a press conference on Monday, stating that Parra has been a considerable force behind the thefts plaguing the city. Highlighting the urgency of the matter, Fiore expressed hope that the gang leader would be apprehended soon to halt the spree of cell phone snatches that have contributed to the city’s rising grand larceny statistics.
The police’s ongoing investigation aims to dismantle the gang’s operations and restore a sense of security among New Yorkers. The public has been urged to remain vigilant and report any related incidents to law enforcement. Further reports are expected as the NYPD continues to track down the remaining members of the gang.