Counterfeit cops still on the loose
Back in Dec., two men impersonating officers of the law stole from a 23-year-old woman, and the NYPD is looking for community assistance in apprehending them. At about 6:40 a.m. on Sat., Dec. 12, the victim was sitting in her vehicle, parked in front of 159 W. 29th St., when she was approached by the two men, who produced a bogus badge while claiming to be narcotics officers. Telling her they needed to search the car, she exited the vehicle. While one pretened to be reporting their activity on the sidewalk, the other “investigated the car” — helping himself to an undisclosed amount of cash and the victim’s cell phone. She was able to provide descriptions to the authorities, and video just prior to the incident, showing both suspects, has been released. Anyone with information is urged to contact NYPD’s Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS, nypdcrimestoppers.com, or text 274637 and enter “TIP577.” All calls are kept strictly confidential.
PETIT LARCENY: Video a no-go | At about noon on Wed., Jan. 20, an unknown male entered the W. 14th St. Apple Store (at Ninth Ave.) and helped himself to a brand new iPhone 6 Plus (valued at $849). The man fled in an unknown direction — and, unfortunately, camera footage could not be accessed.
GRAND LARCENY: Grocery grabber prefers personal property to produce | Usually criminals stick to the food when plundering from grocery stores — but this thief had a different shopping list. At about 4:15 p.m. on Fri., Jan. 22, a 21-year-old shopper at Whole Foods (250 Seventh Ave., at W. 24th St.) noticed that her property was removed from her grocery cart. Chief among the items taken was an Apple Macbook Pro laptop (valued at $1,399), as well as various IDs and credit cards, a $125 wallet, and a $250 black leather tote bag. While video footage was available, a request to access it was denied.
PUBLIC LEWDNESS: Perv protects privates with print media | At about 9:30 p.m. on Fri., Jan. 22, while a Brooklyn-bound L train passed Sixth Ave., a man clad in sweatpants entered a car, then stood facing an unsuspecting 21-year-old Manhattanite — covering himself with a newspaper in one hand, with the other down the front of his pants. After a short while, he moved the paper to reveal himself fondling his genitals, only covering back up after the victim made eye contact with him. Deciding she’d had enough of this unsolicited display, the victim snapped a pic of the perv, and switched seats. Soon thereafter, another woman approached the victim, saying that the same thing happened to her just before. The two got off at the Bedford Ave. stop, and were able to tell an officer at the Eighth Ave. & W. 14th St. subway station. An investigation into the matter by the Manhattan Special Victims Squad is ongoing.
PETIT LARCENY: Crooked cabbie requests ransom | A tourist’s unfortunate encounter with a taxi driver left her cell phone in a hostage situation. Recounting an incident to the police on Fri., Jan. 22 at about 11:22 p.m., a 60-year-old visitor to our city said that after leaving a taxi at the southwest corner of W. 17th St. & Ninth Ave., she realized her phone was still in the vehicle. A friend of hers called the taxi company, looking for the driver. Once she got him on the line, however, the dastardly driver demanded $500 in exchange for returning the phone. No arrests have been made in connection to the incident, and the woman’s $849 iPhone 6s remains out of her possession.
LEAVING THE SCENE OF ACCIDENT/PROPERTY DAMAGE: Slow-motion sideswipe | Hit-and-runs are usually most successful when the fleer actually “runs” off — but inclement conditions didn’t stop one bus driver from doing his darndest to circumvent the consequences of a collision. At about 7:35 p.m. on Fri., Jan. 22, a 33-year-old New Jersey resident was stuck in traffic at the northeast corner of Ninth Ave. & W. 42nd St., when a bus sideswiped his vehicle. Despite vehicular congestion, the bus driver was somehow able to flee the scene of the crime — but not before the victim was able to ascertain it was a New Jersey Omnibus and obtain its license number.
—SEAN EGAN
THE 10th PRECINCT: Located at 230 W. 20th St. (btw. Seventh & Eighth Aves.). Commander: Deputy Inspector Michele Irizarry. Main number: 212-741-8211. Community Affairs: 212-741-8226. Crime Prevention: 212-741-8226. Domestic Violence: 212-741-8216. Youth Officer: 212-741-8211. Auxiliary Coordinator: 212-924-3377. Detective Squad: 212-741-8245. The Community Council meets on the last Wed. of the month, 7 p.m., at the 10th Precinct or other locations to be announced. The next meeting is Feb 25.
THE 13th PRECINCT: Located at 230 E. 21st St. (btw. Second & Third Aves.). Deputy Inspector: David Ehrenberg. Call 212-477-7411. Community Affairs: 212-477-7427. Crime Prevention: 212-477-7427. Domestic Violence: 212-477-3863. Youth Officer: 212-477-7411. Auxiliary Coordinator: 212-477-4380. Detective Squad: 212-477-7444. The Community Council meets on the third Tues. of the month, 6:30 p.m., at the 13th Precinct. The next meeting is Feb. 16.
CASH FOR GUNS: $100 cash will be given (no questions asked) for each handgun, assault weapon or sawed-off shotgun, up to a maximum payment of $300. Guns are accepted at any Police Precinct, PSA or Transit District.
