Crime Ring That Stripped Rims From Cars Across Queens Charged: DA

QUEENS, NY – Three people have been charged in connection with pit stop-style strippings of tires and rims from cars parked on streets in Queens over the past year.

The crimes occurred in the middle of the night throughout the borough between November 2019 and May 2020, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.

According to Katz, tires and rims were stolen from more than a dozen cars in Queens over this time period.

Jonathan Pacheco, 30 of Queens, was located in Pennsylvania and extradited to Queens this week to face charges. Fabian Rodriguez, 33 of Queens, and Jacob Martinez, 29 of Brooklyn, also face charges in connection with the thefts.

According to the charges, on Nov. 7, 2019 Pachecoo was seen on surveillance video just after 12:30 a.m. in the area of 233rd Street in Oakland Gardens. He parked his car across from a 2019 Honda Civic and allegedly removed the lug nuts from the wheels and took all four tires and rims. When the owner of the car returned to the spot, the Honda was propped up on milk crates, officials said.

Katz said Pacheco, Rodriguez and Martinez continued this scenario throughout Queens, hitting Bellerose, Hollis, Forest Hills, Middle Village, Fresh Meadows, Flushing, Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Glendale, Jamaica Hills, Bayside, Maspeth and Rego Park.

On Feb. 24, 2020, Katz said the three men were seen on surveillance video around 1:30 a.m. parking near a black 2019 Honda Accord at the intersection of 153rd and Reeves streets. All three participated in a similar scenario, removing rims and tires from the car.

In all, the men allegedly stole up to $42,000 worth of tires and rims.

Pacheco was charged with auto stripping, criminal possession of stolen property and grand larceny.

Rodriguez was charged with auto stripping, criminal possession of stolen property and grand larceny.

Martinez was charged with criminal possession oof stolen property and grand larceny.