Staten Island ‘handle surfer’ strikes in Bay Ridge

Cops are looking to identify a woman wanted in connection with a grand larceny pattern on both sides of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, within the confines of the 68 and 122 Precincts.

According to police, the suspect has been “handle surfing” – the process of walking by parked autos and checking the handles to see if the auto is locked. Once she finds that a vehicle is unlocked, cops say, she enters and removes any valuables inside.

The pattern, so far, consists of five incidents from Wednesday, January 14 through Monday, February 9 in which the suspect swiped pocketbooks containing bank cards, cash and cell phones from unattended vehicles.

While the first four incidents took place in Staten Island, the fifth incident occurred on the other side of the Verrazano when, on Monday, February 9, the woman stole from a 2015 Chevy parked near 65th Street and Fort Hamilton Parkway.

Anyone with information in regards to any of these incidents is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or texting their tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

All calls are strictly confidential.