GRAND LARCENY: Losing time on the High Line | Like clockwork, the warm weather of summer entices travelers from near and far to enjoy the High Line — though it draws crooks out of the woodwork as well. At about 9:45am on Fri., May 20, in a valiant attempt to prevent uneven tan lines, a 63-year-old visitor from the Ukraine reported that he placed his gold and silver Oyster Perpetual Rolex watch on a ledge in order to apply sunblock. When he was finished and returned to the ledge (at the park’s walkway, on the northeast corner of West & W. 29th Sts.) to retrieve it, he discovered it was gone. He didn’t notice anyone grab or swipe it, and at the time of the filing of the police report, it was unknown whether or not there was video evidence available at the scene — all of which does not bode well for the fate of his $7,000 timepiece.
TAMPERING WITH PHYSICAL EVIDENCE: Hustle not all it’s cracked up to be | Contrary to popular opinion, one can, in fact, knock the hustle, as one man learned the hard way on Fri., May 20. At around 5:45pm a police officer observed the 43-year-old man on the 300 block of Eighth Ave. (btw. W. 25th & W. 26th Sts.) walking up to pedestrians and attempting to sell them wallets. The individual did not have a license to do so, though he insisted, “This is my hustle,” to those present. The man was also found to be in possession of a glass pipe, with alleged crack cocaine residue inside of it. Knowing that the suspicious glassware could get him in trouble, the man knowingly pulled it out of his jacket pocket, slammed it on the ground and stepped on it — thoroughly destroying the evidence. Unfortunately for the self-proclaimed hustler, that in and of itself also constituted a crime, and he was promptly arrested.
PETIT LARCENY: He swiped swiper | Sometimes, you just need to scratch your head and wonder what motivated a dim criminal to risk potentially severe consequences by breaking the law. One such inscrutable dumbbell patronizing a Blink Fitness location (308 Eighth Ave., btw. W. 25th & W. 26th Sts.) fits this profile, as he wound up lifting far more than weights on Thurs., May 19. At around 10pm that night, video evidence shows the unidentified male taking something from the gym, hiding it in his bag, and then leaving the premises. The item he took? For reasons that remain inexplicable, he snagged himself a credit card reader valued at $100.
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF: He hit, like, a truck | Usually when someone’s suffering from road rage, they opt to take their anger out on the other driver — but on Fri., May 20, one ticked-off taxi driver went a different route. As reported by a 35-year-old New Jersey man, working for a van service, at about 11:45pm, a cab driver cut his truck off on the 400 block of W. 35th St. (btw. Ninth & 10th Aves.). The cabbie then got out of his taxi, approached the man’s orange 2010 Aprilia truck, and proceeded to punch the truck’s front windshield, causing it to crack, and then fled the scene. The man was not caught, but the truck driver was able to provide authorities with the cab’s license plate 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, 7pm, at the 10th Precinct. They are on summer hiatus, to resume on Sept. 28.
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, 6:30pm, at the 13th Precinct. The next meeting is June 21.
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.
