As a female resident withdrew $5,000 from a citibank in Garden City Park, she was unaware that two men, later identified as Johan Cruz, 19, and Hector Velit, 33, both of Elmhurst, Queens, were watching her every move. She needed the money for a surprise trip she had been planning for her children who had lost their father in last September's World Trade Center attack. She collected her money, entered her car with her son and headed toward Liberty Travel in Garden City. Looking through her rear and side view mirrors, the woman noticed a purple car with dark, tinted windows was following her.

To be sure, the woman made some random lane changes and turned down several different streets. Sure enough, the purple car followed. Upon arriving in Garden City, she turned into a parking field and began circling the lot to see whether the car was still tailing her. She then found a parking spot, parked and proceeded into Liberty Travel on Franklin Avenue. Inside, as she told agents of her situation, she noticed a male looking into the store window and speaking on what appeared to be a walkie talkie. At this time, an agent called Garden City police.

Several officers and detectives responded, sealing off the parking area. Officers located the purple car, which had a forged temporary Texas license plate on it. Police Officers Scott Graber and John Leach detained the subjects at this time. Garden City Detective Sergeant James Bartkowski and Detective Robert Rothermel revealed the subjects had watched the woman make the large withdrawal and followed her as she left. When she entered the travel agency, Cruz and Velit allegedly flattened one of her car tires with a screwdriver, according to police reports.

With the help of Detectives John Burnett and Robert Dunn from Nassau County's Third Squad, a further investigation revealed that these subjects were allegedly part of a ring currently operating in the area. According to police reports, the two calculated a plan. They would hang around banks and ATM machines and wait for victims, usually females, to make withdrawals. They would then puncture a tire and plug the hole with a sticky substance. When the victim drove away, they would follow while the tire slowly went flat. They would then pull up next to the car and motion toward the tire, informing the victim of the flat. When the victim pulled over, one subject would coerce the victim to exit the car and bring her back to the flat tire while the other subject would steal the victim's purse, which usually contained the recent withdrawal. Both subjects would then drive away, telling the victim they were going for help.

Cruz, who has a scar on his right cheek, and Velit were both charged with attempted grand larceny and several traffic violations in the March 14 incident in Garden City. Further, they are also charged with grand larceny for two other similar incidents, one of which occurred on March 4, 2002 in Garden City and another that occurred in July, 2001 in New Hyde Park.

According to reports, Cruz and Velit are also the subject of approximately 40 more incidents in Nassau and New York City, along with several more from other towns from New York to as far south as Florida. Detectives from all of these areas are currently joined in approximately 70 investigations.

Detective Sergeant James Bartkowski of the Garden City Police Department offers residents the following tips, the first, and possibly most important, being "be aware of your surroundings."

"Just be cognizant of what's going on around you," he said. "Have the bank teller put your money in an envelope, don't count it outside. If someone pulls up to you and says you've got a flat, don't get out of the car. Instead, call for help or drive to a nearby gas station if possible." Further, Det. Sgt. Bartkowski said women should always have their purse on their person - never leave it in the car, especially on the passenger seat in plain view.

"Just trust your instincts if you think something is wrong. Don't hesitate to call 911 either; here in Garden City, we have less than a two minute response time so chances are a police officer will be there as you're hanging up the phone."

Anyone who's been the victim of a similar crime should contact their local police precinct or call Detective Sergeant Bartkowski of the Garden City Police Department at 742-9600.