In a recent crackdown on a citywide robbery pattern, the New York Police Department (NYPD) has arrested seven individuals, including several apprehended during a raid in the Bronx on Monday morning. The operation was aimed at dismantling a crew responsible for a spate of cell phone robberies across the city. The NYPD believes that these arrests have successfully apprehended a group involved in these crimes, recovering some of the stolen goods in the process.

The criminal activity begins with individuals on scooters stealing cell phones from unsuspecting victims and then utilizing hacking techniques to gain access to their banking applications. Surveillance footage obtained by the police shows a suspect on a scooter snatching a victim's bag, forcefully dragging them to the ground.

This investigation ultimately led the police to an apartment in the Allerton section of the Bronx, where Monday's raid took place. NYPD-provided videos depict suspects operating in pairs on mopeds, often targeting unsuspecting individuals, and forcibly grabbing their iPhones, bags, and wallets, sometimes resulting in them being knocked over.

Mayor Eric Adams accompanied police officers during the raid, emphasizing the impact that this small group of individuals is having on public safety. He stated, "We're not going to sit idly by while people choose to prey on their fellow New Yorkers." Deputy Commissioner Tarik Sheppard also stressed that the criminal status of an individual, regardless of their migration or asylum status, will not exempt them from facing the consequences of their actions.

The apartment in which the arrests were made is believed to be a stash house or headquarters for this multi-borough cell phone robbery operation, with connections to more than a dozen suspects, many of whom are migrants according to the police. Victor Parra, the alleged ringleader, remains at large.

NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban acknowledged that while this wave of crimes involves migrants, it does not represent the vast majority of individuals seeking a better life in America. He stated, "But they are, nonetheless, preying on New Yorkers and making our city less safe." Mayor Adams reiterated that, regardless of immigration status, anyone who commits a crime will be treated as a criminal and face the consequences within the criminal justice system.

The police believe that the individuals involved in this operation have been responsible for 62 robbery incidents throughout the city, including the transit system. Their preferred method is to ride on mopeds and scooters, swiftly stealing property such as iPhones and wallets from unsuspecting victims. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny highlighted that the majority of victims are women walking alone and that the mopeds used in these crimes are often stolen as well.

According to Kenny, this network of thieves primarily resides in the migrant shelter system and utilizes social media platforms, such as WhatsApp, for organizing and coordinating their thefts. The scooter drivers and thieves may not necessarily know one another. The ringleader, Parra, would issue requests on WhatsApp, and the scooter operators would earn $100 per day, while the phone snatchers would make between $300 and $600 per stolen phone.

The stolen phones were then delivered to Parra, who employed a technological expert capable of hacking into the devices and gaining access to victims' financial and banking apps. The suspects were specifically targeting phones with payment apps, including Apple Pay, and attempting to misuse credit cards linked to the stolen devices.

So far, the police have identified 14 members of this criminal crew, with seven already in custody. More arrests are expected as the investigation continues. These individuals have not been linked to the recent assault on two NYPD officers in Times Square.

Bronx residents have expressed concern and fear about this theft ring, particularly for their vulnerable loved ones and neighbors. Pam