Tag Archives: goodwill

Police: Woman accused of stealing phone, Teen arrested for phone thefts

WOMAN ACCUSED OF STEALING PHONE FROM GUARD
Police arrested 28-year-old Antonia Coston for an alleged robbery inside 69 Fifth Avenue on Tuesday, May 21 at 2:40 p.m. Police said that Coston was cleaning an apartment in the building and at the time of the incident, appeared to be inebriated. A security guard in the building told police that Coston snatched his phone from the security desk without permission and when he tried to grab the phone back from her, she allegedly punched him in the face.

Coston allegedly fled the location but the victim said that she returned shortly after to grab her suitcase and police said that she punched him again before leaving for the second time. The victim said that he asked for his phone back multiple times and she didn’t comply but she was caught after police searched the area and police said that the phone was recovered.

Coston was also charged with possession of stolen property.

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Thrift Shop Row is thriving

Customers continue to rely on rock-bottom prices

A selection of women’s clothes at the Salvation Army, one of the shops along East 23rd Street’s Thrift Shop Row (Photo by Sabina Mollot)

A selection of women’s clothes at the Salvation Army, one of the shops along East 23rd Street’s Thrift Shop Row (Photos by Sabina Mollot)

By Sabina Mollot

To some they’re places to dig for hidden treasures at a cheap price, while to others, unable to turn elsewhere for the things they need, they’re a lifeline. They’re also the foot soldiers of the nonprofit world, positioned at street level for anyone to breeze on in, and, depending on their needs that day, contribute by leaving the unwanted contents of their closets behind, or by spending a few bucks.

Local bargain hunters are especially fortunate, considering that a two-block stretch on East 23rd Street, between Second Avenue and Lexington, is home to half a dozen thrift shops. They are Cauz for Pawz, Goodwill, Salvation Army, Vintage Thrift, Housing Works and City Opera. At the beginning of the recession, in 2008, these shops were busier than ever, at the time reporting to Town & Village that they were doing well in sales as many more people came to rely on their rock bottom prices. However, they noted that donations had fallen, with many of those same people opting to hold onto the things they had.

Recently, T&V caught up with representatives from a few of the stores that make up Thrift Shop Row to ask how things were going these days, and everyone we spoke with said their organizations were faring well, thanks to a continued reliance on their low priced goods, but also generous people donating.

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