Category Archives: Crime

Man threatens to shoot victim in Union Square

Aug24 robbery Union Square

Robbery suspect

Police are hunting a robber they say threatened to shoot a man who was stuck in traffic in Union Square.

According to police, the victim, a 35-year-old man, was in his car on East 13th Street between Broadway and Fourth Avenue, when the other man opened the rear door and got in. He then demanded money, threatening to shoot the victim if he didn’t comply. The victim turned over his cash and the mugger fled the car. It isn’t clear if he actually had a gun.

The incident occurred on July 21, but police only released an advisory on Thursday night.

The suspect is described as black with a dark complexion and 30-35 years old. He was last seen wearing a white short sleeved shirt, black and blue baseball cap and dark sunglasses.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS or for Spanish 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Website at nypdcrimestoppers.com or texting their tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

 

Fourth teen nabbed for robbery near PCV

Peter Cooper Village

By Maria Rocha-Buschel

Police arrested a fourth teenager in connection with a robbery that took place on East 20th Street outside Peter Cooper Village in July and police are reportedly still looking for five additional suspects.

Police said that the teen was accompanied by eight other people who snatched the victim’s cell phone while hitting him with hockey sticks. Three of the teens were arrested earlier this month, as Town & Village previously reported.

Because all of the suspects so far are minors, no further information is available about where they live and their names are withheld from the public due to their young age. The most recent suspect was charged inside the 13th Precinct last Tuesday at 1:20 a.m.

Although the incident took place outside Peter Cooper Village and not on the property, StuyTown Property Services spokeswoman Paula Chirhart commented on the issue to note that management takes such incidents seriously.

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Police Watch: Different suspects wanted for robbery at bubble tea spot, menacing at nightclub

One of the two suspects

TWO WANTED FOR ATTEMPTED ROBBERY AT BUBBLE TEA SPOT
The NYPD is on the lookout for two men who tried to rob a bubble tea shop in Flatiron.
On Friday, August 11 at 7 p.m., two men entered a Coco bubble tea spot, located at 38 Lexington Avenue and East 24th Street. One of the men approached the counter, simulated a gun with his hand under his sweatshirt and demanded cash from the register. However, they ended up fleeing the location without getting any money.
The first suspect is described as black, 20-30 years old and was last seen wearing a blue head scarf, white hooded sweat jacket, green knapsack, blue jeans and black shoes.
The second suspect is described as white or Hispanic, approximately 20-30 years old and was last seen wearing a black baseball cap, gray hooded sweat jacket, white T-shirt, blue jeans, sneakers and was walking with a cane.
Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.

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Cops arrest man believed to be behind string of cab robberies

Police said Bryant White robbed seven cab drivers this summer.

By Sabina Mollot

On Thursday, police arrested a homeless man, Bryant White, 50, and charged him with robbing multiple cab drivers in Flatiron, Greenwich Village and midtown.

Police found him at East 15th Street and Union Square East where an officer stopped him for a bike infraction. The cop then saw that Grant fit the description of the robber who’s been terrorizing cab drivers by riding his bike up to their doors and stealing cash through the window right out of their shirt pockets. In one incident, the robber also punched a victim.

In all seven known robberies, which took place from June 28 to July 31, a total of $710 was stolen.

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Police Watch: Man arrested for stolen ultrasound machine, Suspected burglar trapped in truck

MEN ARRESTED AFTER ULTRASOUND MACHINE STOLEN FROM BETH ISRAEL
Police arrested 63-year-old Joel Cayabyab for grand larceny inside Mount Sinai Beth Israel at 10 Perlman Place last Wednesday at 6 p.m. Police said that Cayabyab took an ultrasound machine from the hospital without permission. Nat Romeo, 47, was charged with possession of stolen property inside the hospital the following day at 2:20 p.m. in connection with the theft. Cayabyab allegedly told police that he arranged to take the machine and give it to Romeo in exchange for a favor.

SUSPECTED BURGLAR TRAPPED IN TRUCK BY VICTIM ON FIRST AVENUE
Police arrested 29-year-old Remy Zurita for burglary in front of New York Brows Salon at 239 First Avenue last Monday at 4:58 p.m. Police said that Zurita went inside the back of a commercial truck that was parked in front of the salon near East 14th Street and Zurita was allegedly going through a backpack and wallet that was inside the truck. The driver, seeing what was going on, then closed the back of the truck, trapping Zurita there until police arrived.

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Cops looking for man who’s been robbing cabbies in Manhattan

By Sabina Mollot

Cops are looking for a man who’s spent his summer robbing cab drivers in Flatiron, Greenwich Village and midtown Manhattan.

The man apparently rides up to the taxis on his bike and snatches cash from the drivers’ shirt pockets after reaching through their windows. In one recent incident, the mugger also punched a 46-year-old cabbie before snatching $200 from him. This was on Thursday, July 27 at Waverly Place and Christopher Street, where police found a stolen bike he left behind.

A few days later, on Monday, July 31 at 6:30 p.m., police said the man swiped $70 from a 66-year-old cabbie at East 21st Street and Park Avenue South. He then fled on his bike.

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Homeless 83-year-old charged with choking woman, stabbing 2 men

Across from 495 First Avenue (Photo via Google Maps)

By Maria Rocha-Buschel

Police arrested an 83-year-old homeless man, Henry German, after he allegedly stabbed a man with an ice pick, causing his lung to collapse, and strangled a woman on First Avenue last Saturday around 3:20 p.m. German was additionally charged in connection with an assault in 2016 that also resulted in the victim’s lung collapsing. He was arrested at the corner of Peter Cooper Road and First Avenue but police said the incidents happened near 495 First Avenue at East 29th Street.

He allegedly first approached a woman, grabbed her throat and choked her.

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Teens beat man with hockey sticks outside PCV

Mar31 Peter Cooper sign

Peter Cooper Village

By Maria Rocha-Buschel

Police arrested three teenagers on Monday for a robbery outside Peter Cooper Village that took place earlier this month.

A 47-year-old man told police that a group of kids with masks over their faces approached him on the sidewalk outside 531 East 20th Street on Wednesday, July 12 around 11:50 p.m. The victim said that the teens whacked him in the head and body with hockey sticks and took his cell phone before fleeing the scene.

Police said that teens were stopped and frisked shortly after the crime but the victim could not positively identify them at the time because the suspects had been wearing face masks.

According to police, the victim lives in the neighborhood but could not confirm if he is a Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village resident.

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Police Watch: Man arrested for bank robberies, Deli worker busted for untaxed cigarettes

MAN CHARGED WITH ROBBING BANKS AT GUNPOINT IN UNION SQUARE, LES
Police arrested a man suspected in three bank robberies in Union Square and Lower Manhattan last Wednesday. Police stopped 21-year-old Richard Callison in front of 125 Third Avenue at 12:58 p.m. that afternoon while he was stopped in front of a Duane Reade near East 14th Street because he matched the description of a suspect from previous bank robberies.
Police said that video surveillance captured Callison committing the robberies. Callison also allegedly admitted to committing the robberies and police said that he identified himself in the stills from the video.
According to the district attorney’s office, two of the robberies took place on the Lower East Side and one occurred on Broadway near Union Square, all happening on two days last week.
The most recent robbery occurred in the Citibank at 749 Broadway near Eighth Street on July 19 at 11:40 a.m. Police said Callison gave the teller a note that said, “Put the money in the bag. No tracers and no one has to get hurt.” The DA’s office said that Callison pointed what appeared to be a gun through a plastic bag at the teller.
A teller working at the Chase Bank at 109 Delancey Street said that Callison came in at 10:40 a.m. on July 19 and handed over a note that said, “Give me the money. No dye packs. Big bills or your life will end!!!” Callison allegedly pointed a gun at the teller in this incident as well.
A bank teller working in the Bank of America at 92 Delancey Street told police that Callison gave him a note on July 18 around 4:30 p.m. that read, “Give me all the big bills (no traces). Make the wrong move and you will get shot. Rapido rapido.”

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Thieves working together to steal phones from Manhattan stores

Cell phone theft suspects 1, 3 and 4

Police are looking for a group of five thieves who’ve been working in groups as well as alone to hit cell phone stores, including one in Union Square.

Cops said the most recent incident was on July 2 at an AT&T store at 31 East 17 Street west of Park Avenue South. One of the aforementioned individuals posed as a customer and then ripped a cell phone off the display case, where it had been attached by a security cable. He then fled the store.

The first known incident was on June 12 at an AT&T store at 33 Park Place near City Hall. Three men, or possibly teenagers, posed as customers and ripped three cell phones off the display case, after cutting through security cable.

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Man rubs against woman on L train at First Avenue

Forcible touching suspect

By Sabina Mollot

Police are looking for a man who rubbed himself against a female straphanger on the L train last Wednesday.

Police said the victim, a 33-year-old woman, was on the train at the First Avenue station when a man who was standing behind her forcibly rubbed himself against her buttocks. The victim then snapped a photo of the man who was sticking out his tongue before he fled the train. Police said it isn’t clear if the man was grinding against the woman with his crotch.

Update: The victim told DNAinfo he was gyrating his hips repeatedly and she could feel he was aroused.

The suspect is described as Hispanic, approximately 5’6″ with brown eyes and black hair and was last seen wearing an orange t-shirt.

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Woman steals phone, then punches victim for taking it back

July20 robbery

Robbery suspect

Police are looking for a woman who attacked her victim at the Union Square subway station when the other woman confronted her for swiping her phone.

It was on Tuesday afternoon, when the victim, a 27-year-old woman, was going down the stairs to a 4 train platform when she noticed that her cell phone had just been swiped from her bag. The woman then confronted the pick-pocket and managed to get her phone back. The suspect put up a fight though, grabbing the victim by the hair and punching her multiple times in the head. She then fled the subway station.

The victim refused medical attention.

The suspect, who is wanted for robbery, is described as Hispanic, approximately 30 years old, 5’3″ tall, 100 lbs., with straight long brown hair, brown eyes and was last seen wearing a multi-colored dress.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

All calls are strictly confidential.

Police Watch: Senior arrested for threats, Bellevue patient arrested for assault

SENIOR ARRESTED IN KIPS BAY FOR THREATENING MAN WITH KNIFE
Eighty-year-old Sergio Richiez was arrested after allegedly pulling a knife on a man who confronted him for urinating in the street.
Police said that according to the victim Richiez was urinating at the corner of East 28th Street and First Avenue last Monday at noon. When the other man angrily demanded to know why he was doing this, in response, the octogenarian allegedly pulled a kitchen knife out of his pocket and waved it at the victim. He was arrested for menacing and weapons possession. There were no injuries.

BELLEVUE PATIENT ARRESTED FOR ASSAULTING OFFICER
Police arrested 55-year-old Harvey Henry for assault of a peace officer in front of 421 First Avenue last Thursday at 12:33 p.m. Police said that Henry was being discharged from the Bellevue Psych ward and an officer was attempting to handcuff him for transport when he allegedly punched the officer, causing an injury that required five stitches.

MAN ATTACKS FEMALE DUANE READE EMPLOYEE
Police arrested a 32-year-old man after he beat up a woman working at a Kips Bay Duane Reade. Police said that the man entered the store at 465 Second Avenue between East 26th and 27th Streets last Sunday and began harassing the employees there, causing alarm. The employees told him to leave multiple times and he refused, then began following one of the employees around the store and allegedly grabbed her hair, punching her in the face and head, and purposely broke the victim’s glasses. Police said that the man refused to give his name or date of birth.
“John Doe” was arrested for assault and criminal mischief

MEN BUSTED FOR HEROIN ON IRVING PLACE
Thirty-year-old Max Goren, 38-year-old Jason Hawk and 32-year-old Igor Pasikov were arrested for possession of a controlled substance at the corner of Irving Place and East 15th Street last Thursday at 3:25 p.m. Police said that the three men were in possession of heroin that was in plain view on a public sidewalk. Goren was also in possession of alleged cocaine and police said that Hawk was in possession of alleged Clonazepam.

MAN ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSING AT GUITAR CENTER
Police arrested 42-year-old Dashan Pinckney for criminal trespass inside the Guitar Center at 25 West 14th Street last Thursday at 6:16 a.m. An employee told police that when he was opening the store that morning, he saw Pinckney sitting inside on a staircase without permission to be there. Police said that Pinckney had gained access to the store while it was closed.

MAN ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSING AT BETH ISRAEL
Police arrested 32-year-old Jamel Holiday for criminal trespass inside Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital at 281 First Avenue last Wednesday at 4:26 p.m. Police said that Holiday was medically cleared to leave the hospital but he refused to leave after being discharged.

MAN ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT ON WEST 23RD
Police arrested 21-year-old Issaga Sow for assault in front of 171 West 23rd Street last Thursday at 9:02 p.m. Police said that Sow punched the victim in the face, causing a number of cuts. No further information about what prompted the attack was available.

MAN NABBED FOR BURGLARY AT CLEANERS
Police arrested 22-year-old Philyaw Najre for burglary inside Apple Cleaners at 149 West 24th Street last Friday at 1:23 a.m. Police said that Najre could be seen on surveillance video through a live feed inside a closed business without permission to be there. Police said that Najre could be seen walking away from the store and when he was searched immediately afterwards, he was allegedly in possession of items stolen from the store.

MEN ARRESTED FOR UNION SQUARE BURGLARY
Police arrested 24-year-old Blake Cummings and 25-year-old Sow Alioune for burglary and possession of stolen property last Friday at 1:43 a.m. at the corner of Fifth Avenue and West 15th Street. Police said that Cummings and Alioune entered the basement of a nearby building and took items without permission. Police said that the basement is a restricted area, but no further information was available about the specific building.

MAN BUSTED FOR HEINEKEN THEFT
Police arrested 24-year-old Gary Williams for petit larceny at the corner of Union Square West and East 14th Street last Friday at 2:32 a.m. Police said that Williams took a 12-pack case of Heineken beer in a nearby store and attempted to walk out without paying. While police were attempting to place Williams in custody, he allegedly resisted by pulling his arms away, tensing up his body and refusing to be handcuffed. He was also charged with resisting arrest and possession of stolen property.

MEN ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT
Thirty-year-old Reginald Wilson and 24-year-old Shaquille Urgent were arrested for a fight in front of 37 West 24th Street last Sunday at 5:17 a.m. Police said that Wilson and Urgent got into a fight with another person, causing swelling to the victim’s head and face, as well as a bloody lip and cuts to his neck and chest.

DRIVER ARRESTED AT FIRST AND EAST 23RD
Police arrested 53-year-old Aurelio Romero for allegedly intoxicated driving at the corner of First Avenue and East 23rd Street last Friday at 1:41 a.m. Police said that Romero was driving north on First Avenue towards East 23rd Street and was allegedly driving erratically, swerving in and out of the lane. Police conducted a vehicle stop and while talking with Romero, police found that he had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, along with slurred speech, bloodshot, watery eyes and an unsteady gait.

Teens wanted for string of electronic toothbrush thefts

Surveillance photos of suspects from the third incident in Murray Hill

By Maria Rocha-Buschel

Police are looking for a group of teenagers suspected of stealing thousands of dollars worth of electronic toothbrushes from Duane Reades throughout the city, including from a store in Gramercy. The four incidents all took place in April, although police only announced the pattern this week. The first theft took place inside the Duane Reade at 125 Third Avenue near East 14th Street on Sunday, April 9 at 9:18 p.m. when the suspects reportedly grabbed $1,264 worth of electronic toothbrushes from the shelves and fled.

The next two incidents took place two days later on April 11 in stores on the Upper East Side. Police said that the suspects entered a Duane Reade at 1091 Lexington Avenue at 5:07 p.m. and swiped $1,210 worth of electronic toothbrushes before fleeing, then stole $3,030 worth of electronic toothbrushes from a Duane Reade at 1352 First Avenue at 5:20 p.m.

The last known incident took place on Sunday, April 23 when the suspects made off with  $160 worth of electronic toothbrushes from a Duane Reade at 155 East 34th Street near Third Avenue.

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Woman’s credit cards used after she may have dropped wallet on 6 train road bed

July13 Credit cards

Larceny suspect

 

By Sabina Mollot

Cops are looking for a man who used a 22-year-old woman’s credit cards in the Bronx after she may have lost them in the tracks of a subway station at 23rd Street.

The victim told cops she believes she dropped her wallet on the northbound 6 train road bed on June 23 and that this is where the suspect found it. Purchases were later made at a MetroCard vending machine inside the 149th Street and 3rd Avenue subway station in the Bronx. The suspect is described as black and was wearing a black t-shirt with a gold Adidas symbol on the front.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).  The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.