Police are searching for three men and a woman who they say punctured a woman's tire and then stole cash and credit cards from her purse.
The 68-year-old victim parked her car at 2517 Parsons Blvd. in Jamaica just before 3 p.m. on Friday. While she was away from the vehicle, one of the suspects allegedly punctured the rear passenger tire with an unknown object.
The woman returned to the vehicle and drove a short distance before realizing her tire was flat. She parked the car and prepared to change the tire.
Around that time, two men offered to help with the tire. While they were talking with her, police say a woman wearing a dress and sandals was able to slip away with the woman's purse, which contained $1,175, several credit cards and a cell phone.
The scam is similar to one used by a man in a string of thefts across Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn two years ago. A suspect was arrested in the case.
Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-577-TIPS.
