Police on Tuesday were looking for a group of five people they said have been attempting to snatch purses from women on the Upper East Side.
The three incidents NYPD officials described all happened in the evening, roughly between 2nd and 3rd avenues and between East 70th and 78th streets.
Two of the victims were targeted on Jan. 19 around 8:20 p.m., when police said the group stole a handbag with money and credit cards from a 32-year-old woman on East 75th Street and then tried it again on a 38-year-old woman on 3rd Avenue and East 78th Street. The 38-year-old was able to hang onto her bag but sustained minor injuries in the process, according to the NYPD.
The third incident happened on Jan. 21 around 5:40 p.m., when the group approached a 71-year-old woman on 2nd Avenue and East 70th Street and tried to grab her handbag, police said. She was also able to fight off the alleged thieves but sustained minor injuries.
The NYPD released photos of people wanted in connection with a string of robberies and attempted robberies on the Upper East Side, on Feb. 3, 2025.
Nail salons and restaurants burglarized across the city
Police additionally said on Tuesday they were looking for a man who has been breaking into nail salons and restaurants across Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan in a separate series of 10 incidents. They said he has been stealing cash from registers, as well as other items like nail supplies, electronics and frying pots.
Most of the incidents happened in late December and early January at night or in the early morning, according to the NYPD. In each, police said the suspect broke the lock on the business’ front door and made off with several hundreds of dollars in cash and other valuables.
Some of the businesses he allegedly targeted include Pressed Juicery in NoHo, LIC Nail and Spa in Long Island City, Serendipity Nails and Spa and Hawa Restaurant on the Upper East Side, and Sushi Meshuga in Sheepshead Bay, officials said.
Police said they were looking for a suspect in a rash of nail salon and restaurant burglaries in December and January, on Feb. 3, 2025.
Robberies and burglaries were down significantly citywide so far this year through Jan. 26, compared to the same period in 2024, according to NYPD data. There have been 26% fewer robberies and 11% fewer burglaries during that time.
Police asked anyone with information about the incidents to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Tips can also be submitted via the Crime Stoppers website.
This is a developing story based on preliminary information from police and may be updated.
