Shomrim Helps Nab Craigslist Car Thief
His car was gone in less than 60 seconds. In fact, a young Brooklyn man’s 2005 Nissan Maxima disappeared instantly after he stepped out of the driver’s seat to let a prospective “buyer” take it for a spin.
But the trusting victim, who asked not to be identified, smartened up fast and soon tracked down his stolen vehicle on Craigslist — where he originally peddled it.
With the help of the Shomrim, an Orthodox Jewish anti-crime patrol, the victim turned the tables on the alleged perp, setting up a sting Sunday night that put his car back in his driveway and the suspect under arrest.
The caper unfolded after the victim, 21, advertised his Nissan for sale on Craigslist on Dec. 29 and arranged to meet “buyer” Valsyl Lazoryshyn for a test drive, authorities said.
As the pair took the car out on Bay Parkway in Bensonhurst, Lazoryshyn asked if he could get behind the wheel, the owner said.
The victim agreed and hopped out — at which point, Lazoryshyn allegedly climbed into the driver’s seat and floored it.
“I let him get into drive, and he took off,” the hapless victim told The Post yesterday.
The embarrassed owner reported the theft to the NYPD — and also decided to do a little detective work of his own.
Scanning Craigslist later the same night, he spotted for sale a 2005 Nissan Maxima that bore a suspicious resemblance to his former ride — but with slightly higher mileage. The young Kojak called the number listed, and a light bulb went on when he heard the voice on the other end.
“I kinda knew it was him,” he said.
He enlisted the aid of Shomrim, which advised him to set up a sting by performing his own prospective-buyer act, which he did Sunday night at a gas station on 18th Avenue in Borough Park.
When Lazoryshyn appeared at the address with the car, the owner identified him, the Shomrim crew called 911, and the NYPD grabbed him after a brief foot chase.
Lazoryshyn, 24, was arraigned last night in Brooklyn Criminal Court, where felony charges were downgraded to petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, both misdemeanors. He was released after posting $500 bail.
Additional reporting by Joe Walker
Propeganda
With all due respect, this has nothing to do with CH shomrim;it’s boroghpark shomrim.So please be clear in your articles.
title
who had the car’s title?
Ain-t got no wheels
Nice!
Few questions.
Something so easy and simple to catch, still the owner had to call shomrim, you cannot rely on the expensive NYPD to take care of things.
Second, he stole a car, that is not petty larceny? What joke!
Third, I got my wheels stolen, will you help me find them?
BigBen
Wow all that work and the russian gonif is back on the street immediately with only $500.00 out of his pocket. (Which he will cover on his next car “purchase”.)
Nice job Shomrim. Keep up the good work.
stats
well folks there you have it as it says in the last paragraph “where felony charges were downgraded” yep downgrade the stats
go figure
$500 bail, yet rabashkin cant get 1 million
Crown Hights Boy
Shomrim did not need to get involved as long as the seller had the tital the car was reported stolen. The thief would get into bigger trouble reselling it.