Panhandling to robbery
A man walking to his car parked in front of 300 Albany St. in Battery Park City around 7:45 p.m. Tues., Aug. 30, had unwelcome company in a stranger who followed him and asked repeatedly for money. The stranger finally reached into the victim’s back pocket for his wallet and started slapping and punching the victim when he didn’t give it up, police said. Richie Wesc, 35, was arrested and identified as the suspect a short time later. He was charged with third degree robbery.
Party brawl
A rowdy party at a bar at 41 Broad St. around 3:30 a.m. Sun., Sept. 4 ended in a brawl in which two men were injured. One victim told police he was blindsided by what he thought was a punch but discovered blood oozing from a cut on the left side of his neck. Assailants caught up with another fleeing victim at Old Slip and hit him over the head with a bottle, police said. Both victims were hospitalized.
Had gun would travel
Two suspects approached a man walking on Wooster Street near Canal Street around 4:10 a.m. Sat., Sept. 3. One of the suspects tried to grab the victim’s neck chain, police said. The victim held onto the chain and struggled with the suspect who pulled a silver handgun, ejected a spent shell casing, and fled with his accomplice without firing a shot, police said.
Just resting
After an evening of shopping in Soho, a Brooklyn man, 26, sat on the steps in front of 99 Prince St. around 7:30 p.m. Wed., Aug 17, for a rest while listening to music on his headphones. A short time later, he discovered that his bag, which he had put down beside him with his wallet and iPhone, was gone. Other people were sitting on the steps at the same time, but no one saw anyone take the bag, police said.
Ready to go
A man making a delivery to 113 Church St. around 6:45 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 1, parked his van across the street. As soon as he left, a green Jeep pulled up behind and a woman jumped out, witnesses told police. She got into the van and sped away followed by the jeep driven by a man with another man in the passenger seat. The victim acknowledged to police that he had left the van unlocked and the motor running.
Car break-in
A resident of 78 Grand St., between Greene and Wooster Streets parked his car in front of his residence at 11 a.m. Mon. Aug. 29, and returned to it the following evening at 7 p.m. to find the rear window broken and the Global Positioning System along with a camera, two cell phone chargers and an iPod and iPod connector stolen.
No sunshine
A man who parked his 1997 Subaru SUV on Vandam Street between Hudson and Greenwich Streets a 8 p.m. Tues., Aug. 30, returned an hour later to find the vehicle had been stolen. He admitted to police that he had a spare set of keys on top of the driver’s side sun visor.
Assault newspaper hawker
A man handing out free AM newspapers in front of the Staten Island Ferry Terminal around 6 a.m. Fri., Sept. 2, turned around to find a stranger sitting on his stack of papers, police said. When the vendor asked the suspect to get off the stack, the stranger and an accomplice began beating the victim. One of the assailants threw a luggage cart at the victim, cutting his head, police said. Both suspects fled.
Regular customer
A Hoboken, N.J. woman at the Dubliner bar and restaurant, 45 Stone St., for dinner around 8:10 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 1, put her bag on the table, turned away and discovered five minutes later that the bag had been stolen, police said. The theft was recorded on the surveillance tape and the manager identified the woman on the tape as a frequent Dubliner customer.
