New footage shows a thief wanted for stealing a man’s car in East Harlem climbing into the vehicle to go on a terrifying, 20-minute joyride with the owner’s 11-year-old son inside.
The surveillance video, released by cops early Tuesday, shows the suspect opening the door to the orange 2017 Nissan Rogue, getting behind the wheel and driving off — shortly after a pedestrian passed in front of the SUV.
The boy was sitting in the front passenger seat of the Rogue — which his dad left running as he popped into a City Fresh Market on Third Avenue near East 121st Street around 8 p.m. Sunday — when the unidentified suspect got inside, cops said.
“I’m a friend of your dad’s,” the suspect allegedly told the boy. “Don’t worry.”
Police are still looking for the man responsible for stealing a Nissan SUV with an 11-year-old boy in the front passenger seat. DCPISomewhere along the way, the driver sideswiped two parked cars, the boy reported to cops.
About 20 minutes later, the suspect stopped the SUV at Lafayette and Bolton avenues in the Castle Hill section of the Bronx — more than five miles away — and let the boy out, unharmed, cops said.
The kid used his phone to call his dad, who then notified the police, cops said.
Police released the surveillance video of a man stealing an orange Nissan Rogue with an 11-year-old boy inside. DCPI
According to police, the thief told the boy he was a friend of his father. DCPI
According to the boy, the thief sideswiped two other cars during the ride. DCPIOfficers then reunited the boy with his dad, authorities said.
The boy was treated for minor neck pain at Harlem Hospital and released.
Around 9:30 that night, the suspect was spotted stealing a cellphone charger inside the BP gas station on Hillside Avenue near 242nd Street in Bellerose, Queens, cops said.
The boy was sitting in the front passenger seat of the Rogue – which his dad left running as he popped into a City Fresh Market in East Harlem. DCPIThe stolen SUV was found around 1 a.m. Monday in the confines of the 108th Precinct, which covers southwest Queens, according to authorities.
The suspect was still on the loose Tuesday.
He is described as about 5 feet 7 and 150 pounds, with a full beard and short, dark hair.
The child was found in stable condition and was treated for slight neck pain. DCPIHe was last seen wearing dark pants, a multi-color jacket, a dark baseball cap, a dark hoodie and sneakers.
