'Wheelchair bandit' apprehended in New York

A man with a wheelchair was arrested on Friday on charges he'd rolled through New York City restaurants, bars and hotels stealing wallets and purses. Police caught Matias Moreno-Boza, 25, of Perth Amboy, who they said snatched four women's purses from different Midtown hot spots throughout August and September, apparently committing all the thefts while using a wheelchair.



The New Jersey man repeatedly lurked in trendy Midtown restaurants, preying on unattended purses, and rolling away with the goods when the owners were distracted, police say. In his final, Sept. 6 heist, Moreno-Boza snatched a 35-year-old diner’s purse hanging on the back of her chair at Spanish restaurant Txikito on Ninth Ave. around 8:30 p.m., according to police.



Days earlier, Moreno-Boza targeted a 40-year-old woman at Havana Central on W. 46th St. in Times Square, grabbing her bag at 9:45 p.m. as she was on the dance floor, officials said. On Aug. 30, the free-wheeling fiend allegedly rolled into Nobu 57 on W. 57th St. at 11:30 p.m. and stole an expensive Coach purse a 34-year-old diner had placed under the bar. He then used the credit cards in the purse to buy food at a nearby pizzeria, officials said.


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Investigators said the thief is also responsible for cruising by a 42-year-old woman talking to a concierge at the Marriott Marquis Hotel on Broadway on Aug. 19 and taking a satchel bag containing an iPhone, some credit cards and several pieces of jewellery. Authorities charged Moreno-Boza with four counts of grand larceny. Police did not immediately say whether Moreno-Boza is handicapped or used the wheelchair as a prop.