‘Vicious’ group allegedly ambushing high-end NYC diners, violently robbing pricey jewelry

[The Bobster]

‘Vicious’ group allegedly ambushing high-end NYC diners, violently robbing pricey jewelry

A Manhattan cop opened fire early Monday at suspected members of a high-end-robbery ring casing a Chelsea restaurant — who are possibly tied to last month’s shooting at Philippe Chow, police source…

nypost.com

‘Vicious’ group allegedly ambushing high-end NYC diners, violently robbing pricey jewelry​

By
Tina Moore,

Larry Celona,

Craig McCarthy and

Bruce Golding


October 11, 2021 11:50am
Updated









Cops shoot at suspects eyed in string of high-end jewelry thefts in NYC


A Manhattan cop opened fire early Monday at suspected members of a high-end-robbery ring casing a Chelsea restaurant — who are possibly tied to last month’s shooting at Philippe Chow, police sources said.
The crew tools around in Mercedes-Benzes and BMWs to pull off its heists, which cops believe include at least 12 robberies across Manhattan, Queens and The Bronx — netting more than $4 million in jewelry and watches just since August, sources said.
The robbers — who call themselves “OED” for “Own Every Dollar” — are affiliated with the notorious Trinitarios gang in The Bronx and suspected in at least one homicide, sources said.
“They are very vicious,” a Manhattan cop said.
“After they shot a victim Uptown, they pounced on him and stole his jewelry while he was dying.”
The robbery of the dying man appeared to be an after-thought, sources said.
NYPD officers spotted a black BMW allegedly involved in robberies and attempted to pull it over.Robert Mecea Patrons gather at the scene of the attempted getaway outside Pergola in Chelsea. Robert Mecea NYPD officers captured one suspect who had been inside the black BMW. Robert Mecea Women walk by the scene of a police-involved shooting outside Pergola in Chelsea. Robert Mecea
The ring’s latest crime unfolded around 1:15 a.m. outside the trendy Pergola eatery and hookah bar in Chelsea when officers recognized a BMW parked nearby that matched the description of a car tied to a series of lucrative jewelry heists outside upscale hotspots, sources said.
The cops moved in after a check showed a plate on the Beemer didn’t match the vehicle, sources said.
When the cops tried to stop the vehicle on West 28th Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues, the driver gunned the engine and jumped a curb, almost plowing down several pedestrians, sources said.
The suspects in the black BMW allegedly tried to plow through pedestrians in their desperate attempt to evade cops. Robert Mecea New York Knicks star Taj Gibson is seen leaving Pergola following a police-involved shooting in Chelsea. Robert Mecea Wilson Mendez (second from left) is taken into custody after attempting to run away from cops. Robert Mecea
An officer finally stopped the car by firing three shots through its windshield, leading the driver and two passengers to bail out and start running, sources said.
One of the suspects — Wilson Mendez, 19 — was nabbed after a short chase and taken to a hospital for treatment of cuts to his face, sources said. Charges against him are pending, sources said.
Another man, who was wearing dark clothing, disappeared into nearby Madison Square Park and is being hunted, as is the third suspect, sources said.
Authorities are searching for the second suspect who fled the black BMW. G.N.Miller/NYPost Crime scene detectives gather photographic evidence at the scene of a shooting on 28th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue in Manhattan on October 11, 2021. G.N.Miller/NYPost
A .9mm handgun was found on the floor in front of the blood-stained passenger seat of the Beemer, which was littered with broken glass after the shooting, sources said.
No one was hit by any of the bullets, and it’s unclear which suspect was behind the wheel.
Monday’s incident was at least the second tied to Pergola, where a 34-year-old man had $100,000 worth of jewelry — including an Audemars Piguet watch — stolen from him when he left there early on Aug. 19.
Others that are believed to be part of the pattern include the Sept. 16 heist at the Upper East Side Chinese restaurant Philippe Chow, where robbers stole a Rolex wristwatch from a man dining outdoors on Sept. 16.
NYPD officers investigate a shooting at club Pergola on 28th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue in Manhattan on October 11, 2021.G.N.Miller/NYPost
The bandits then set their sights on Melchior Cooke, 28, who was shot in the leg when he fought back.
On Thursday, the ring — which numbers around 20 members — also struck in TriBeCa, when some of them robbed the owner of a Diamond District jewelry store outside the Buddha-Bar Restaurant New York, sources said,
The crooks’ other capers include an Aug. 14 robbery in which armed men hopped out of a Mercedes-Benz and stole more than $4 million worth of jewelry, including a Richard Mille watch, from two men who’d just left TAO Downtown.
An off-duty cop also fell victim to the gang Sept. 9 when he was robbed of a Tag Heuer watch outside the Silver Towers condominium apartment building on West 41st Street, sources said.

 

[The Bobster]

Teen suspect in high-end theft ring charged with gun possession

Wilson Mendez, 19, of the Bronx, was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, when cops allegedly caught him and others in a black BMW casing Pergola restaurant for victims.

nypost.com

Teen suspect in high-end theft ring charged with gun possession​

By
Kevin Sheehan and

Rebecca Rosenberg


October 13, 2021 2:04pm
Updated

Wilson Mendez is arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court after he was arrested early October 11, 2021. Curtis Means/Pool

​

An alleged member of a high-end robbery ring that’s terrorized wealthy patrons of Big Apple hotspots was held on bail Wednesday as federal authorities work to build their own case against the violent crew.
Wilson Mendez, 19, of the Bronx, was charged with criminal possession of a weapon in his latest bust early Monday, when cops allegedly caught him and others in a black BMW casing Pergola restaurant for victims.
The Beemer fled when cops moved in to pull it over, jumping a curb and nearly striking pedestrians — and prompting cops to open fire.
The suspects all fled but Mendez was nabbed after a short chase. Police recovered a 9mm handgun on the floor of the car.
Mendez was held on $50,000 cash or $150,000 bond at his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court, where prosecutors made no mention of his alleged ties to the jewelry heists.
A shooting suspect is taken into police custody at 26th Street and Madison Avenue in Manhattan on October 11, 2021.Robert Mecea for NY Post
“My client has full faith in the legal system,” said defense lawyer Glenn Hardy. “After a full investigation, he is confident he will be vindicated.”
On Tuesday, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said federal charges are in the works against Mendez and his crew, who are being eyed in more than a dozen violent robberies outside the city’s trendiest nightclubs and restaurants.
“The message to these people should be very clear: We are going to come after you with the full might and fury of the criminal justice system, including federally, and put [you] away for as long as we possibly can,” Shea said Thursday on 1010 WINS.
Pergola restaurant on 28th Street in Manhattan, where Wilson Mendez and his crew were suspected to be casing out the restaurant for things to steal. Robert Mecea for NY Post
Mendez’s two accomplices from Monday are still in the wind, sources said.
Mendez is awaiting trial in two other Manhattan criminal cases, including one for firearm possession for which he was released on $50,000 cash bail.
The robbery ring — who call themselves OED for Own Every Dollar — are affiliated with the notorious Trinitarios gang in the Bronx.
Two suspects attempted to flee in a BMW before police managed to stop the car and arrest one of the suspects. The other two are still at large. Robert Mecea for NY Post Wilson Mendez was arrested by police on October 11, 2021, after trying to case a restaurant in Midtown. Curtis Means/Pool
They allegedly hit Pergola in NoMad on Aug. 19, robbing a 34-year-old man of $100,000 in jewelry, then Philippe Chow a month later, stealing a patron’s Rolex watch and shooting a bystander who tried to intervene.
A Diamond District store owner had $150,000 worth of jewelry snatched at gunpoint last week as he left Tribeca’s Buddha-Bar New York.
During a Sept. 20 robbery, the crew allegedly gunned down Jeffrey Sanchez outside the Opus Lounge in Inwood.

 

[The Bobster]

Suspects possibly linked to NYC robbery ring swipe $20K watch in Chelsea

The 28-year-old victim had left trendy restaurant TAO Downtown around 4:15 a.m. Saturday, when the male suspects displayed a gun and stole his $20K watch.

nypost.com

Suspects possibly linked to NYC robbery ring swipe $20K watch in Chelsea​

By
Larry Celona and

Amanda Woods


November 11, 2021 12:15pm
Updated

Police are investigating whether the incident near TAO Downtown is connected to the high-end robberies by the group who call themselves "OED." Seth Gottfried

​

A trio of suspects — possibly linked to the high-end robbery ring responsible for multiple heists across the city — targeted a man over the weekend after he left Chelsea hotspot TAO Downtown, authorities said.
The 28-year-old victim was about two blocks from the trendy restaurant, at 10th Avenue and West 18th Street, around 4:15 a.m. Saturday, when the male suspects displayed a gun and stole his Hublot watch, worth around $20,000, cops said.
They also robbed him of $500 in cash, as well as his Louis Vuitton wallet — holding his vaccination card and credit cards, cops said.
The trio took off in a white BMW heading north on the West Side Highway, cops said.
Police are investigating whether the incident is connected to a group of robbers who call themselves “OED” for “Own Every Dollar” — who are affiliated with the notorious Trinitarios gang in the Bronx and suspected in at least one homicide, sources said.
The crew members tool around in BMWs and Mercedes and dress in dark clothes, according to the sources. They also wear masks — though it was unclear if the trio in the recent stick-up used any face coverings.
Members of “OED” are known to drive around in BMWs and Mercedes.G.N.Miller/NYPost
The group is suspected to be behind a Sept. 16 heist at the Upper East Side Chinese restaurant Philippe Chow, where robbers allegedly stole a Rolex wristwatch from a man dining outdoors.
The bandits then set their sights on Melchior Cooke, 28, who was shot in the leg when he fought back.
Prior to Saturday’s incident, the ring’s most recent crime unfolded around 1:15 a.m. Oct. 11 outside the trendy Pergola eatery and hookah bar in NoMad. Officers recognized a BMW parked nearby that matched the description of a car tied to the high-end heists, sources said.
Suspect Wilson Mendez is taken into police custody on 26th St. and Madison Ave. in Manhattan after an incident originated at Pergola.Robert Mecea
The cops moved in after a check showed a plate on the Beemer didn’t match the vehicle, sources said at the time.
When the cops tried to stop the vehicle on West 28th Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues, the driver gunned the engine and jumped a curb, almost plowing down several pedestrians, the sources said.
An officer finally stopped the car by firing three shots through its windshield, leading the driver and two passengers to bail out and start running, sources said.
Police stopped the BMW near Pergola by shooting into the vehicle’s windshield.Robert Mecea
One of the suspects — Wilson Mendez, 19, of the Bronx — was nabbed after a short chase, according to the sources.

 

[The Bobster]

Teen busted over shooting death in NYC jewelry theft: cops

The teen is the second person linked to the death of Jeffrey Sanchez – who was blasted in the torso outside Opus Lounge on 10th Avenue near West 203rd Street in Inwood.

nypost.com

Teen busted over shooting death in NYC jewelry theft: cops​

By
Amanda Woods


June 10, 2022 1:48pm
Updated









Cops shoot at suspects eyed in string of high-end jewelry thefts in NYC



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A 16-year-old boy was arrested this week in connection to the shooting death of a 35-year-old man during a high-end jewelry robbery outside an Upper Manhattan hot spot last year, authorities said.
The teen is the second person linked to the death of Jeffrey Sanchez – who was blasted in the torso outside Opus Lounge on 10th Avenue near West 203rd Street in Inwood around 4:10 a.m. Sept. 20, cops said.
The teen – whose name was not released because of his age – was arrested at his home Wednesday and charged with murder, robbery, criminal possession of a weapon and assault, police said late Thursday.
Sanchez – who was targeted for his Cartier watch – was pronounced dead at St. Barnabas Hospital, police said.
Another man, 42, was also shot in the right forearm, cops said. He was taken to Harlem Hospital in stable condition.

00:19 01:08 A 16-year-old boy was arrested in connection to Jeffrey Sanchez’s shooting death outside Opus Lounge. Google Maps
Police said they are probing whether the deadly shooting is linked to the high-end robbery ring known as OED – or Own Every Dollar – that has terrorized patrons of Big Apple hotspots for their pricey jewelry.



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Back in December, Damian Suarez, 19, was also arrested in connection to Sanchez’s death and charged with murder and robbery, cops said.