April 19, 2008: Vol. 31, No. 16

Knives are still in style among Williamsburg muggers, as at least three crooks used blades to intimidate and slash their victims. Here are the gory details:

• A crook robbed a North First Street woman in front of her apartment on April 11.

The blade-wielding mugger confronted the woman when she exited her apartment, which is between Wythe Avenue and Berry Street, at around 1 am.

“Don’t look at my face,” he said, pulling out the silver knife. “Give me your s—.”

The victim forked over a pink leather wallet, credit cards, a monthly Metrocard, an iPod, a Nokia cellphone and $100.

Cops believe this mugger is behind a string of robberies on Metropolitan Avenue that were reported in The Brooklyn Paper last month.

• Another woman was mugged in the lobby of her Harrison Place building on April 11.

The crook was sitting in front of the building, which is between Bogart Street and Morgan Avenue, when the victim got home at around 8:45 am. He forced his way into the building when she opened the door, grabbing her from behind.

“Take your jewelry off before I hurt you,” he said, showing the knife.

The woman gave the man two rings — one containing a diamond — and a necklace, worth $755.

• Two violent thugs slashed a 21-year-old victim on Scholes Street on April 12.

The crooks approached that man at around 1:25 am as he walked between Manhattan and Graham avenues.

“Give me your money,” one of the thugs said, before slugging the victim in the face with a closed fist and slicing his left hand with a knife.

The victim handed over $20.

©2008 The Brooklyn Paper