Thieves Try To Sell Stolen Sneakers, Turns Out They're Knock-Offs
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police continued to search Thursday for the suspects who threw a 17-year-old onto the ground and stole his sneakers in Queens.
It happened around 12:30 p.m. Saturday on Quince Avenue between Bowne Street and Parson Boulevard in Flushing.
Surveillance video shows three suspects pull up in a white, four-door sedan while the victim stands on the street using his cellphone. They snatched the sneakers off his feet and stole his wallet, containing $10 and a debit card.
The victim was treated for cuts to his knees and arms.
But as CBS2's Marc Liverman reported, the story doesn't end there.
The suspects were caught on camera again – this time, trying to sell the shoes at Image Sneakers on Northern Boulevard.
"They weren't nervous, they weren't stuttering or anything like that," said a store employee named David, who was behind the register. "I just thought they belonged to one of the kids. I didn't know they were stolen at the time."
David said this pair of shoes typically costs between $1,500 and $2,000, but he didn't buy them because they were knock-offs.
"If the kids feel like that's their way of getting a quick buck, then it obviously happens," he said.
He said it's something that happens way too often, but not at his store – not in the four years he's worked there.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-700-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via the Crime Stoppers website, or by texting a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) and then entering TIP577.
