September 8, 2007 / News / Police Blotter / Bay Ridge–Bensonhurst

Guards sell false sense of security

By Matthew Lysiak and Michael Giardina

for The Brooklyn Paper

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A team of men selling a home security system ended up stealing their would-be client’s credit card on Aug. 28, cops said.

Luckily, the 35-year-old victim canceled the card before the fake security consultants could make a big purchase.

The victim says that “workers” came to his home, which is on 81st Street near Third Avenue, to install a protective door at 4 pm — but he was onto their plot.

The perps managed to successfully add $2 to their Metrocard, but were denied when they tried to make a much larger purchase at Circuit City because their victim had already notified his credit card company.

Cops said they are questioning the workers.

Bank bombs

A thief escaped with $800 after passing a note to a teller at a Third Avenue bank on Aug. 30, police said.

The thief walked into the Sovereign Bank, at 75th Street, at 2:15 pm, and handed the 31-year-old clerk a note that stated, “I have a bomb. Give me your money.”

The teller handed over the money — but tricked the thief by handing over three stacks of cash with $100 bills on top, but only singles in the middle.

The perp took the cash and bolted for the door before running down Bay Ridge Parkway.

Police are now looking for a dark-skinned man, roughly 30-years-old, and 150 pounds.

Laptop swiped

A Fifth Avenue man lost a laptop and cash when his apartment was robbed on Aug. 28, cops said.

The 31-year-old victim left his apartment, which is near 86th Street, to go to work, but when he returned at 4:40 pm, he discovered that his laptop, and $485 in cashhad been taken, according to police.

Fake cop stop

Two thugs posing as plainclothed police officers robbed a man at knifepoint on 70th Street on Aug. 28.

The 20-year-old victim was near the corner of Eighth Avenue at around 11:25 pm when he saw the two fakers get out of a car and announce that they were cops.

The phony police frisked the man before pulling a knife and stealing his iPod and $150.

The perps then jumped back in the car and sped down Eighth Avenue.

Toying around

A woman had her wallet stolen as she was shopping in a popular Bay Parkway toy store on Sept. 1.

The 32-year-old was in the store, which is near Cropsey Avenue, at around 6 pm, when she noticed her wallet was gone. Thieves managed to swipe her credit, and debit cards, and actually use them in the same store moments later, the victim told police.

Unfortunately, no one saw the swipe.

Purse grab

An employee of a popular 86th Street shoe store had her pocketbook stolen from a back storage room on Sept. 2.

The perp entered the store, which is near Bay Parkway, with no intention to buy a thrifty pair of shoes.

At around 1:50 pm, he crept his way to the back of the store, near the storage room, and swiped the purse.

Later, he fled the store with the shoulder bag, which contained $20, including her credit and debit card, police said.

The victim was unable to get a good look at the thieve’s face.

Laundry entry

A 20th Avenue Laundromat was literally taken to the cleaners after it was broken into overnight on Aug. 29.

The cleaners, which is near Bay Ridge Parkway, was broken into at around 1 am, when perps busted open a side window, and smashed through a back office door, leading them right to the cash. They swiped $2,000 from the office, and fled through the same window, police said.

There were no witnesses, so the thieves got a clean getaway.

Shop swipe

A man who left his car to be fixed at a Bay 37th Street auto repair shop returned to the mechanic on Aug. 28 to find the car missing.

The 49-year-old man was told by the mechanic, whose business is near Cropsey Avenue, that thieves had stolen the 2003 Chevrolet Impala.

The four-door sedan has the New York plate number BXK9857.

Anyone who spots the vehicle is asked to call the 62nd Precinct at (718) 236-2611.

Hot wheels

A man had all four wheels stolen from his 2006 Honda Accord on Aug. 27, police said.

The 33-year-old returned to his vehicle, which was parked on 21st Avenue near Shore Parkway, at around 8 pm to find it on cinderblocks. The perps had jacked up the four-door sedan, and lifted the tires and rims in one fell swoop.

AM burg

A woman’s West Seventh Street apartment was robbed after she left for work early on Aug. 26.

The 32-year-old woman returned to her home, which is near Avenue S, later in the afternoon only to find her property missing. Thieves managed to swipe electronics, jewelry, and her passport, police said.

©2007 The Brooklyn Paper