While most New Yorkers are climbing the walls from cabin fever, one daring burglar decided to climb the scaffolding around the 26-story Con Edison building in Manhattan on Monday — and was cuffed for his trouble.
Police said the suspect, believed to be in his 30s, was seen traversing the metal apparatus surrounding at 4 Irving Place in Gramercy Park at noon on April 13, in the midst of the rain storm.
Cops from the 13th Precinct surrounded the building that takes up an entire city block, and police began a search.
Emergency service police officers joined the search, with reports that the man had gone to the roof of the building with fears that he might be contemplating jumping.
After a search by police and Con Ed security, police began searching floor by floor when they located the unidentified man lying on the floor, bleeding from multiple parts of his body.
Cops say the man had apparently smashed a window on the second floor from the scaffolding and climbed inside — leaving police to classify the crime as an attempted burglary.
The perpetrator, who’s believed to be homeless, was brought to Bellevue Hospital for treatment of his injuries. Charges against him are pending.
Advocates say homeless people are becoming more desperate as they are unable to panhandle in much of the city because people are afraid to approach because of COVID-19.
The landmark building, the original structure built in 1910, formerly contained Tammany Hall and the Academy of Music, as well as the offices of Con Ed’s predecessor, Consolidated Gas.
