Police Put Out Surveillance Video Of Phony FedEx Workers Who Stormed Into House
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police on Wednesday released a surveillance video of two suspects who pretended to be FedEx workers as they invaded a home in Howard Beach, Queens.
At 1:38 p.m. this past Monday near 156th Avenue and 90th Street, one suspect posed as a delivery man as he forced his way into the house, while the other suspect – also dressed in a FedEx vest – stayed outside acting as a lookout.
CBS 2's Don Champion talked earlier this week with the resident of the home, Margaret Mazzio.
"They said they were from FedEx, and they put a stupid box in the house," she said.
Mazzio said she knew something was wrong when the men tried to shove their way past her daughter, so she turned into a tough mom.
"He wouldn't move, so I took the inside of the door and I was pushing him and that's when he pushed in more and I took the phone and whacked him right in the face with it," she said.
The quick thinking by Mazzio helped her and her daughter foil the would-be thieves' plan. The men drove off in a white vehicle empty-handed, police said.
But neighbors said they are concerned that the trouble hasn't passed, and that the men may be looking for ways to take advantage of a neighborhood struggling in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
"You are expecting packages because of the storm. Everyone is getting new things and different things sent to their home," Pat McMilleon said.
There was no useful description of the suspects in a police news release, but police hoped a surveillance video would help identify them.
The box that the suspects used was empty. Investigators dusted it looking for clues. Authorities said they do not think the break-in was part of a pattern of crimes. A third man was driving the white Infinity they used as a getaway car, police said.
Anyone with information was asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS, log onto the Crime Stoppers Web site, or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and enter TIP577.
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