NYC crook steals car then returns it when he finds 9-year-old inside: sources

A Thief with a Snake Tattoo Returns Stolen Minivan with Girl Inside

In a surprising turn of events, a thief with a snake tattoo on his neck stole a minivan in Harlem and then returned it when he discovered a terrified 9-year-old girl in the back seat. The incident took place at East 107th Street and Third Avenue in East Harlem around 2:30 a.m. on a Sunday.

The 56-year-old father had just dropped off his younger daughter, aged 7, from his gray Honda Odyssey when the thief seized the opportunity to drive off with the vehicle. The frantic dad immediately sought help from NYPD officers in the area, who initiated a search for the perpetrator.

However, the thief had a change of heart when he realized the older girl was still in the car. He circled back to the same location and returned the minivan before fleeing on foot. Fortunately, the girl was unharmed during the ordeal.

The suspect, described as a man in his 40s with a snake tattoo on his neck, wearing a white T-shirt and tan pants, remains at large as of Monday.

Similar Incidents of Child Abductions

This incident is not the first of its kind in New York City. In May, a stranger drove off in an SUV with a 2-year-old boy inside in Brownsville, Brooklyn. The boy’s mother had briefly stepped into a deli when the thief, identified as Maurice Stephens, took off with the toddler.

Fortunately, the police were able to locate the stolen vehicle and rescue the child within 10 minutes of the abduction. Stephens was apprehended and charged in connection with the crime.

In another case last Thanksgiving, a 22-year-old man named Mohamed Sakho allegedly stole a car with a 7-year-old boy inside in the Country Club section of the Bronx. The boy was safely recovered, and Sakho was arrested a day later for an unrelated robbery.

These incidents serve as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and caution, especially when it comes to the safety of children in public spaces.