Aug. 9, 2021 By Allie Griffin
Police are looking for a man who stole an 82-year-old senior’s van in Whitestone last month and crashed it a day later in Rego Park during a police chase.
The suspect took off with the vehicle at around 3:55 p.m. on July 7 after the senior left the vehicle parked in front of 25-15 157th St. with the engine running.
The following day, officers spotted the suspect driving the senior’s 2004 Chevrolet Express near Alderton Street and 63rd Drive in Rego Park at around 6:15 p.m.
The suspect attempted to speed away from the police and crashed the van by 63rd Drive, police said.
The man then fled on foot, northbound on 63rd Drive, and police were unable to catch him.
The NYPD released photos and a description of the suspect Sunday in hopes of identifying him to make an arrest.
The department described the suspect as a man with a light complexion, heavy build and short blond hair. He was last seen wearing a red shirt.
Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or on Twitter @NYPDTips.