NYC thieves calling themselves 'the Grinch boys' targeted drunk people in nightclubs, stole their cards and phones then spent $420,000 on Apple products and luxury clothes to resell

A gang of New York City thieves have been charged with targeting intoxicated nightclub goers, stealing their credit cards and phones and using them to purchase $420,000 of luxury goods. 

The self-named 'Grinch Boys', referred to their crimes as 'grinching', where they would use stolen payment details to buy electronic items from Apple and then immediately sell them for cash.

Julian Pomales, 33, known as Juju, and Blerina Prelvukaj, 30, known as Winter, have been charged with various counts of grand larceny, conspiracy and identity theft, among other crimes.

Julian Pomales, 33, known as Juju acted as the leader of the 'Grinch Boys' 

Blerina Prelvukaj, 30, known as Winter, has been charged with various counts of grand larceny, conspiracy and identity theft

The group took stolen credit cards to Apple's 24-hour flagship store on Fifth Avenue where they made multiple purchases

The pair appeared in New York State Supreme Court on Tuesday and pled not guilty. 

'We allege that these four individuals targeted intoxicated New Yorkers and used their credit cards and financial apps to purchase hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of merchandise at Apple and luxury retailers,'  District Attorney Bragg said on Tuesday. 

Pomales acted as the leader of the 'Grinch Boys', identifying victims in nightclubs then with Prevujak and other would encourage the victims to drink more alcohol, isolate them from others and then steal their belongings, according to court documents. 

The group would then take their credit cards to Apple's 24-hour flagship store on Fifth Avenue where they made multiple purchases.  

During one late-night visit to the store, they made more than $150,000 worth of purchases in a single three-hour visit. 

During one late-night visit to the store, they made more than $150,000 worth of purchases in a single three-hour visit

An image of a Grinch custom necklace was submitted into evidence 

The DA's Office told the court the investigation into the group's crimes is ongoing

'We are working with retailers to make sure their business practices do not encourage large-scale, late-night unauthorized purchases' Bragg said. 

'But with phone thefts yielding increasingly large payouts, we are also urging New Yorkers to take precautions' he added.

The group also made other luxury purchases with the stolen credit cards.

Pomales filmed a music video wearing several of the items he purchased with stolen credit cards at Amiri, Loewe, and Christian Dior and posted it to YouTube, prosecutors alleged. 

The DA's Office told the court the investigation into the group's crimes is ongoing.