26 THE QUEENS COURIER • MAY 15, 2014 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com Women used child to snatch wallets at Bayside stores: cops BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA AND LIAM LA GUERRE [email protected] Bayside turned Dickensian as two women played Fagin to a young child who they used to steal wallets and credit cards from three women, police said. One of the crimes was caught on tape, which, while lacking the catchy tunes of “Oliver!”, shows an apparently preschool child lift the wallet of a distracted salewsoman in Karma, a boutique at 38-27 Bell Blvd. around 2 p.m. on May 7. The child then gave the wallet, which contained $200, personal identifi cation and a debit card, to one of the women who placed it in her pants and fl ed the clothing store, police said. About 15 minutes later, the salesperson noticed her wallet was missing when she was going to pay for her delivered lunch. After 11 years in Bayside, Karma has not experienced a crime such as this one, owner Margaret Papacosta said. “On Bell Boulevard for something like this to happen, it’s unheard of,” she said. ”I was shocked.” So was the city’s news media, which descended en masse on Bell Boulevard. The suspects also allegedly committed a similar theft at a Bayside thrift shop called The Worthy Pause, on Corporal Kennedy Street, the same afternoon, according to police and Rose Meehan, a volunteer who works at the store. Meeha said two women fi tting the suspects’ description and the young girl stole from two volunteers at the shop. They took a wallet containing $80 and a credit card, and a fanny pack with a driver’s license and credit cards inside of it. Papacosta, a mother of three, was concerned for the young girl who the suspects employeed. “She was forced to commit a crime,” Papacosta said. “What does her future look like?” Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or can text their tips to CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confi dential. With additional reporting by Angy Altamirano THE COURIER/Phot by Eric Jankiewicz Karma Boutique owner Margaret Papacosta stands near where a wallet was stolen from her store last week. Photos courtesy of NYPD st of the 2013 THE QUEENS QueensCourier.com Place Open House Saturday, May 17 at 1 pm High School Summer Workshops July 7 - 25 July 28 - August 15 Audio Recording, Filmmaking, Guitar, Musical Theatre, Vocal Ensembles College Summer Classes June 2 – August 21 Magazine Names New & Transfer Students Welcome • Affordable Tuition One of the Top 35 Summer Graduate Classes June 30 - August 21 One, Two & Four Week Classes • New & Transfer Students Welcome Music Business Programs in the United States 305 N. Service Road Dix Hills, NY 11746 www.ftc.edu 631.656.2110 • AUDIO RECORDING TECHNOLOGY • BROADCASTING • BUSINESS • E LEMENTARY TEACHER EDUCATION • FILM/VIDEO • JOURNALISM • MASS COMMUNICATION • MUSIC TEACHER EDUCATION • MUSIC BUSINESS • MUSIC PERFORMANCE • THEATRE ARTS
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