By Anthony Payero
(QUEENS, N.Y.) The New York City Police Department is in search of the suspects behind the theft of two delivery scooters in separate incidents in Queens and the Bronx, according to ABC 7 NY.
The first incident took place in Queens earlier in July, when a restaurant's delivery employee had his expensive e-scooter stolen. The restaurant owner addressed the incident on Monday.
The 41-year-old employee was returning to the restaurant at 62-01 Woodside Avenue on Wednesday, July 14, to pick up other delivery orders.
As seen in surveillance footage, two men neared the victim and stole his red Yamaha scooter, worth an estimated $4,000.
The two assailants snatched the victim's helmet from the scooter's handlebars and struck him with it before bolting from the scene.
The victim did not undergo serious injuries as a result of the theft.
His manager spoke on what the loss of the bike meant for the employee and the business.
"He's doing his best job, he's working, it's hurting him a lot and I'm sure he's not the only one," manager Juan Castano said.
Castano proved to be right about his employee not being the only one, as a 23-year-old food delivery worker in the Bronx had his motorbike stolen outside a McDonald's on East 170th Street while picking up an Uber Eats order from the fast-food chain.
Officials said three suspects stole the blue motorbike while the 23-year-old was inside the restaurant.
"It's tough to see, unfortunately, it's what going on these days," Castano said.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org or by messaging on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.