The “Bentley Bandits,” a gaggle of armed robbers in Manhattan, earned their nickname from the primary automobile they focused.
On Feb. 18, the crew set their deal with a 2023 Bentley sedan that value greater than $200,000 and occurred to be idling on West twenty eighth Avenue.
One of many Bentley Bandits approached the high-end trip with a gun. He walked as much as the motive force’s facet and demanded the particular person get out of the automobile.
The proprietor adopted orders, however the Bentley Bandits bumped into an issue. Seconds become minutes because the expensive sedan sat in park, idling on the road.
That is due to one essential, essential element.
“They don’t know how to operate the vehicle. High-end vehicle. Unsuccessful,” NYPD Chief John Mastronardi informed NBC New York. “They couldn’t move the vehicle because they didn’t know how to place the vehicle in drive.”
The carjacker’s accomplice in crime jumped in to assist, however the Bentley Bandits nonetheless couldn’t determine how you can put the posh automobile in gear. The robbers then sped off in a white BMW.
Simply 10 minutes later, they noticed a 2024 Mercedes Benz on East fortieth Avenue.
“They told the individual also to get out of the car, pointing a firearm at him,” stated Mastronardi.
The crew compelled the motive force and passenger out of the sedan at gun level, and this time they had been in a position to drive away.
“These are violent individuals. They become more brazen with each incident they have,” Mastronardi warned.
And due to that, Chief Mastronardi and a group of detectives at NYPD’s Crimes Towards Individuals Squad have been working to trace them down earlier than there may be one other sufferer.
“[Victims] get ambushed. They don’t know what’s going on. They have a firearm pointed at their face., telling them to get out of the vehicle. What are you gonna do? You’re gonna get out of the vehicle. Right? It’s either that or you’re gonna get killed. You don’t know their intention,” stated Mastronardi.
The NYPD says the crew, thought-about to be armed and harmful, is exclusive.
“There are three people: Two people truly commit the theft. The third particular person is the getaway driver. The 2 people who’re doing the robberies are sporting black hoodies and masks. One particular person could be very distinctive in that he’s sporting a varsity sort jacket with distinctive patches,” said Mastronardi. “We do know they flee town they usually go to the outskirts of the outer boroughs.”
As detectives work to see if they’re linked to some other carjackings in Manhattan, Mastronardi stated he’s assured his group will put the brakes on the Bentley Bandits.
“With the use of technology, video, good old-fashioned police work and the public’s assistance, I think we have the deck stacked against these individuals and I feel confident it will come to a successful conclusion and we will bring these individuals to justice,” stated Mastronardi. “Now we have to catch them and we are going to.”
Anybody who acknowledges the people within the images and movies is requested to contact police instantly.
