By Chriss Williams
19th Precinct
Electric Trio
A 32-year-old man heading to work on his electric bicycle early morning Tuesday, Feb. 11, was robbed by three men. According to police, the three men blocked the victim with their electric scooters on the northeast corner of First Ave. and east 60th St. and threatened bodily harm if he did not give them money. The victim was punched several times in the face and one perp held him down by stepping on his right hand. The trio took his black and red bike valued at $1,730 and fled westbound across the Queensboro Bridge. The victim suffered minor injuries as a result. Police are investigating.
Hello, Goodbye
On Wednesday, Feb. 2 at 1:45 a.m., an employee of Veritable, a restaurant located at 1201 Second Ave., entered the premises to fumigate, when he witnessed two men dressed in black with ski masks exit and flee westbound on foot. The employee noticed that the restaurant’s cash register was broken and on the floor. The case remains open as authorities investigate.
Selling is a Drag
A 19-year-man was dragged half a block by a car, after selling his iPhone. Police say that on Wednesday, Feb.5 the man met the phone’s female buyer outside of 125 East 63rd St. The victim gave the phone to the woman who was sitting in the driver’s seat of a silver Nissan 4-door sedan, in exchange for $1,500. At about 10:36 p.m., the transaction was complete, and the buyer sped off, dragging the victim to Park Avenue before he was able to escape. The motive, unclear. The incident was witnessed by a 31-year old bystander. The victim suffered back pain and laceration to his knuckles. After contacting authorities, the vehicle’s license plate was traced to a black 2013 Chevrolet that had been issued a summons in January and the money was counterfeit. The Secret Service was notified, and the incident is being investigated.
Stealing sound and time
No arrests have been made after five men stole $3,447 in merchandise from the Apple store, located at 940 Madison Ave. According to police, the incident occurred on Sunday, Feb.9 at 6:04 p.m. and store security cameras show the men removing several air pods and watches from the shelves, before feeling on foot.
20th Precinct
Credit Carrying Bike Burglar
On Friday, Feb. 7, an unknown male intruder was captured on an Upper West Side’s building surveillance camera using credit cards to force the front entry door open. According to police, the burglar entered 136 West 75 street and headed to the basement storage room at approx. 3:35 p.m., where he removed a 38-year-old resident’s Lynskey pro bicycle valued at $4246. The victim noticed the bike missing two days later and reported the theft to authorities. The case remains open as police investigate.
Smell Smugglers
Two twenty-something perps made off with $2330 in perfume bottles from an Upper West Side Sephora on Monday, Feb. 3. The store’s surveillance camera, shows two men entering 2103 Broadway at 6:29 p.m., and walking over to a fragrance display. One perp removed a backpack from underneath his jacket and held it open while the other suspect filled it with 20 bottles of perfume before they fled on foot. An employee notified the police.
Shop-Hopping Purse Pincher
An elderly Upper West Side resident was the victim of a purse thief while dining at Bar Boulud on Friday, Feb. 7. According to authorities, at 1:57 p.m., the 74-year-old woman attempted to pay her lunch bill, when she realized her purse was missing. Several minutes later, she received a text message from CitiBank stating charges were made on her credit card in the amount of $3480 at the Apple Store located at West 67 Street and Broadway. Two minutes later, the victim received yet another text notification regarding an unsuccessful charge to her American Express card at the same location. As the afternoon progressed, she received a phone call from the Gap store near Lincoln Center alerting her to another purchase the shop-hopping thief had made in the amount of $1954. By the end of the day, the woman canceled her credit cards. The case remains open as police investigate, much to the chagrin of the thief.
A Coat of Many Cosmetics.
A man was arrested on Grand Larceny charges Saturday, Feb. 8 after allegedly shoplifting a large number of cosmetics from Duane Reade. The incident happened inside the store’s 2025 Broadway location at around 2:40 p.m. An employee allegedly witnessed 53-year-old Joseph Montgomery take 116 cosmetic items and 5 bottles of lotion off the shelves and hide them under his jacket. According to police, Montgomery had an open warrant and was arrested shortly after he left the location. He was not in possession of the alleged $1,152 in merchandise he was accused of taking, at the time of the arrest.
Cell Phone Grab
A 53-year-old man chased his cellphone thief several blocks on Tuesday, Feb. 4. According to police, the man was talking on his iPhone 11 while walking southbound on Central Park West near West 85 St. around 1:10 p.m. An unknown man approached him from behind and snatched the cellphone before running eastbound. The victim chased the perp for several blocks before stopping to catch his breath and calling authorities. He attempted to locate his phone using the app “find my phone,” using an officer’s phone but was unsuccessful due to not remembering his login information. The case remains open as police investigate.
