Man Accused of Impersonating Police Officer While Shoplifting at New Hyde Park Target, Cops Say
The Third Squad reports that a Flushing, Queens man was arrested for impersonating a police officer and stealing merchandise from a New Hyde Park Target store.
Authorities say that Yunzhi Xie, 43, was stopped by store loss prevention employees as he was attempting to leave the Target located at 1400 Hempstead Turnpike with merchandise he did not pay for at 10:06 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 21.
Xie then allegedly identified himself as a police officer and displayed a law enforcement shield; police were called to the scene, and the subsequent investigation revealed that Xie was not, in fact, a law enforcement officer.
At that time, the supect was placed under arrest without incident.
Xie is charged with second-degree criminal impersonation and petit larceny. He was released on an appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in First District Court in Hempstead on Thursday, March 13.
Detectives are asking anyone who may have been a victim of a similar incident to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS or call 911. All callers will remain anonymous.