GRAND LARCENY: Boozy Bandit’s Bottle Break-in | A thief might have been prepping for a high-end blowout of a party on Sun., Dec. 27, at about 8 p.m. That’s when the owner of The Leonora (525 W. 29th St., btw. 10th & 11th Aves.) noticed that a refrigerator with a lock and latch had been tampered with, to the point where there was enough space for a bottle to squeeze out. And that’s exactly what happened — 16 times, and with a healthy variety of alcohol — as the unknown thief made off with $5,608 worth of liquor. Cameras were present but, unfortunately, not operational.
CRIMINAL MISCHEIF: Snorkel Smasher Stranger Than Fiction | Sometimes in New York, reality can be crazier than fiction. That was the case when an 18-year-old man, clad in sunglasses and a snorkel (and reportedly intoxicated, according to the witness, an employee) entered The Diner (44 Ninth Ave., at W. 14th St.) at about 9:45 p.m. on Mon., Dec. 28 and asked to speak to the restaurant’s manager. The staff (understandably) denied the request, and when the perp refused to leave, an unknown patron escorted him out. Upon his ousting, he threw an empty helium tank through the window, and fled the scene on foot.
GRAND LARCENY, CRIMINAL MISCHEIF: Break Me Two Times, Baby |Police are eyeing the same suspect for two W. 17th St. car break-ins on Mon., Dec. 28. The first happened to the 2010 gray Toyota Corolla owned by a 22-year-old Nassau County woman visiting the Highline Ballroom (431 W. 16th St., btw. Ninth & 10th Aves.). Upon returning to her car at 7:30 p.m., which was parked outside 333 W. 17th St., she found her rear passenger window broken (damages valued at over $250), and $160 worth of stuff stolen — including gift cards from Macy’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Bubble Tea. At 10 p.m., a 51-year old man discovered the rear passenger window of his black 2015 Toyota (parked outside 332 W.17th St., btw. Eighth & Ninth Aves.) broken as well (again, over $250 in damages). Apparently, the criminal thought a nightcap was in order after a night of break-ins, as he also took five bottles of wine (valued at $150) with him when he left.
PETIT LARCENY: Candy Criminal Caught |It seems as though a 50-year-old man’s sweet tooth had a hand in doing him in. Just after midnight on Tues., Dec. 29, at a Food Emporium (452 W. 43rd St., btw. Ninth & 10th Aves.), security witnessed him attempting to remove about $160 worth of merchandise from the shop: five packages of Dove soap at $9 each, two containers of Folgers Coffee ($14), and a whopping $174 worth of Godiva chocolate. The man was promptly arrested, before he could enjoy any of his ill-gotten goodies.
ASSAULT: New Year’s Brawl | Hopefully, the new year will only get better for an unfortunate Westchester County man, whose 2016 got off to a violently inauspicious start when he tried to hail a taxi at about 4:50 a.m. on Fri., Jan. 1. The 23-year-old was entering a cab in front of 225 W. 14th St. (btw. Sixth & Seventh Aves.), when he got into a verbal altercation with a couple. The situation escalated to the point where the male perp, 33, repeatedly struck him with a closed fist (causing bruises and swelling) and then wrapped his arms around the victim’s neck (causing him to fall unconscious). Meanwhile the female perp, 24, struck him with her stiletto heel, lacerating the victim so badly that he required 14 staples to mend the wound. Fortunately, police canvassed the area and ended up arresting the two, after a witness positively identified them.
—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 Jan. 27.
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 Jan. 19.
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.
