Robbery pattern
Police are linking a suspect to five robberies — in all of which he either displayed or simulated a weapon — in the Sixth and Ninth Precincts, since December.
In the first incident, police said, on Sun., Dec. 13, at 3:45 a.m., two men, ages 30 and 29, were approached by the suspect, who demanded their property while displaying a silver firearm, inside an apartment building lobby in the vicinity of Waverly Place and Christopher St. The suspect removed $400 from one of them before fleeing.
Next, at around 3:15 a.m. Wed., Dec. 30, in front of 181 Thompson St., police believe the same suspect — this time with a sidekick — approached a man, 31, with one of them brandishing a firearm. They fled with the victim’s cell phone, watch and $300.
In the third incident, at around 8:35 p.m. on Thurs., Jan. 14, the suspect followed a man, 27, into an elevator in an East Village apartment building, simulated a firearm inside his jacket, and fled with $150.
Then, around 5:35 p.m. on Tues., Jan. 19, according to police, the perpetrator followed a male victim, 28, into an apartment building at 381 E. 10th St., displayed a knife, and demanded his messenger bag. The victim refused and the mugger fled empty-handed.
Finally, on Thurs., Jan. 21, at around 4:40 p.m., the same suspect followed a woman, 24, into an elevator in a West Village apartment building, and simulated a gun inside his jacket, before fleeing with her headphones and $50.
The robber is described as about age 40, rather short, 5 feet 4 inches tall, 160 pounds, and with a dark complexion. He was last seen wearing a black shirt under a black jacket, with blue jeans, black sneakers and a black winter hat. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Police Department’s Crime Stoppers Hotline.
No butts about it
Tobacco Prince, the smoke shop at 200 W. 14th St., may not be around much longer. According to a police report, on Wed., Jan. 27, at 10:20 p.m., officers found multiple packs of cigarettes without tax stamps, with forged tax stamps and with Virginia stamps being sold on the premises. Police said they also found a switchblade, pepper spray and marijuana at the location. According to police, Tobacco Prince has a history of illegal behavior and the police plan to shut down the business.
Employees Bassam Alnahhar, 26, and Sam N. Hassan, 24, were arrested for felony criminal possession of a forged instrument.
Bottle bash
A man assaulted a woman at Warehouse Wine and Spirits at 735 Broadway on Fri., Jan. 29, police said. The victim was shopping in the store around 5:30 p.m. when she got into an argument with a man. The man hit her in the face with a bottle, causing substantial pain, bruising and swelling to her cheek and mouth, police said.
Police arrested Assane Ciss, 61, for felony assault.
W. 12th sexual assault
Police are looking for a man who sexually assaulted a woman in her Village home in early January, and are asking for the public’s help in tracking down the suspect.
According to police, on Sun., Jan. 3, around 3:25 p.m., in a residence in the vicinity of W. 12th St. and Greenwich Ave., a man knocked on a 23-year-old woman’s door, pretending to be a neighbor. He also was seen following the victim for several blocks before she got home. The man asked if something was burning and once inside of her residence, he slapped and choked the victim. He then removed her clothing and forced her to perform oral sex.
The suspect took the victim’s cell phone and removed $250 from her wallet and fled on foot. The woman was treated and released at an area hospital.
The suspect is described as a white male in his twenties, 6 feet tall, with black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Police Department’s Crime Stoppers Hotline, at 800-577-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Web site, www.nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by texting them to 274637 (CRIMES) and then entering TIP577. All tips are confidential.
Out of control
A car chase between police and a man driving a gray Volkswagen Passat got wild on Sat. Jan. 30. According to a report, police observed a man making an unreasonable amount of noise with his horn on W. 14th St. and Seventh Ave. at 9 p.m. Cops activated their patrol car’s lights and sirens but the man did not comply by pulling over his vehicle and proceeded to drive to Fifth Ave.
When the driver stopped, a police officer grabbed the car’s door handle but the man accelerated, dragging him along with the vehicle. The officer hit the pavement, injuring himself. The driver went on to flee through numerous red lights and also drove on the sidewalk, endangering pedestrians’ lives, police said. When the car made its final stop, the man refused to get out of the vehicle when police attempted arrest.
Elias M. Blancovitch, 35, was busted for felony assault.
McD senior pounder
Police are asking for the public’s help in tracking down a man who beat up a senior on Sat., Nov. 28, in the McDonald’s at 114 Delancey St.
On that day around 1:15 a.m., police said, the individual was inside the fast-food spot when he got into an argument with the victim, 64. The suspect then proceeded to punch the older man in the face, throw him to the floor and stomp him. EMS responded and took the injured man to an area hospital where he received treatment for facial injuries and bleeding of the brain. The victim was in stable condition.
Police described the attacker as a male black with braids. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Police Department’s Crime Stoppers Hotline.
Emily Siegel
and Lincoln Anderson
