January 19, 2008: Vol. 31, No. 3

A 64-year-old Bay Ridge man is the latest victim of a widespread Canadian-based sweepstakes scam.

Police say the man received a letter at his Fourth Avenue apartment claiming to be from “Citi Financial” on Nov. 22 announcing his winnings of $315,000.

Before he would be eligible to claim his total winnings, the letter advised him, he would first have to cover the taxes and instructed him to send money to an address in Canada.

The man, who lives near 95th Street, sent two checks totaling $3,470 to the address — and hasn’t heard back.

Double dip

Police are investigating two robberies that occurred on the same block of Bay Ridge Avenue on Jan. 11.

The first occurred at 10:30 am, when a thief stole $5,000 from a 22-year-old man’s apartment between Ninth and 10th avenues.

Six hours later, someone broke into a 36-year-old man’s apartment by breaking through a rear window. After leaving muddy footprints around the place, the thief exited through the front door — making off with two cellphones, two Rolex watches and $10,000.

Bars none

A 72nd Street man discovered on Jan. 9 that even security bars over a window are no match for a determined thief.

Cops say someone pried the protective bars off the 35-year-old man’s bedroom window to gain access to his apartment, which is between 12th to 13th avenues.

The thief was long gone with various pieces of jewelry by the time the victim returned home at 2 pm, police said.

Account low

A 26-year-old 79th Street man was the victim of identify theft after someone made an unauthorized withdrawal of $9,000 from his bank account on Jan 9.

Police say the thief used information stolen from the man’s home to withdraw the money.

Laptops stolen

Two laptops valued at $2,100 were stolen from an Ovington Avenue apartment on Jan. 10.

Police said the robber broke the lock of the apartment, which is located between 12th and 13th avenues, sometime after its 30-year-old resident left at 5:30 am.

Airbagged

A man who had parked his Honda near the corner of 86th Street and Dahlgren Place had a hard time moving his car after a someone stole the steering wheel in broad daylight on Jan. 8.

Police say a thief smashed the window of the 2004 car at 1:30 pm, taking the wheel and an airbag worth over $1,000.

Lock the doors!

This is Brooklyn, so it’s no shame to lock one’s doors.

That’s what one 25-year-old man learned on Jan. 9 after a thief stole $1,500 from his unlocked apartment, which is on 63th Street near 11th Avenue.

©2008 The Brooklyn Paper