A distinguished-looking crook with a neatly trimmed gray beard, scarf and fedora has been knocking off Manhattan stores to fuel his passion for high-end goodies, police said Tuesday.
His illicit cache included a $37,000 fur coat from Fendi on Madison Avenue, cops said.
The sticky-fingered thief — who is actually missing a couple of digits on both hands — has stolen a total of nearly $44,000 in merchandise in three separate heists this year, police said.
In the first theft, he walked into a Jil Sander store on Madison Avenue near East 69th Street on Jan. 27 and swiped a shearling coat worth around $4,530, cops said.
He concealed the garment under his clothing and strolled out undetected.
He struck again March 3 at the Fendi store near Eas 57th Street, hiding the expensive fur under his jacket again and walking out unnoticed.
In the most recent incident, the crook was wandering around Daum Jewelry on Park Avenue near East 59th Street when he grabbed a small decorative statue worth about $2,400 and stuffed it under his coat, police said.
The suspect is described as being in his 50s or 60s, around 5-foot-5 and partially bald with gray hair.
He is missing fingers on both hands except for his index fingers and thumbs, police said.