Purse curse

It was a bad week to own a purse in North Brooklyn. Crooks preyed on unattended handbags, snatching at least five purses from bars and clubs. Here are the shocking details:

• A thief snatched a 39-year-old woman’s purse from a Greenpoint Avenue bar on Jan. 17 and used her credit cards to buy a $350 BMX bike.

The thief grabbed at around 2 am while the victim was in the restroom of the venue, which is between West and Franklin streets.

• A hoodlum snatched a 29-year-old reveler’s purse from a Union Avenue bar on Jan. 18 while the victim was dancing between 2:30 am and 3 am. He escaped from the bar, which is at North 11th Street, with the victim’s credit cards, Motorola cellphone, keys, clothing, IDs and $160.

• A hooligan grabbed a woman’s purse while she used the restroom at a Bedford Avenue nightclub overnight on Jan. 21.

The thief snatched the bag from a table between 11:45 pm and 12:45 am, and escaped from the venue, which is between North Seventh and North Eighth streets, with the victim’s credit cards, IDs, gift cards, Metrocard, wallet, and $80.

• A thug snatched a pocketbook containing two revelers’ valuables on Jan. 24.

The crook grabbed the unattended brown leather bag from the bar at North Sixth Street, between 2 am and 2:20 am

Once the crook had the purse, which contained an iPhone, cellphone, Sanyo digital camera, credit cards, IDs, and $50, he escaped from the venue, which is between Wythe Avenue and Berry Street.

• A thief snatched a black snakeskin purse from a Meserole Avenue rock club on Jan. 24, grabbing the bag between 2 am and 2:30 am and fleeing the venue, which is between Manhattan Avenue and Lorimer Street. He got a cellphone, glasses and keys.

Money laundering

A burglar snatched electronics, jewelry, cash — and soap — from a Nassau Avenue apartment on Jan. 21.

The thief struck between 9 am and 2 pm, pushing his way into the apartment, which is between Apollo and Hausman streets, while the victim was at school. Once inside, the crook — who neighbors suspect was a homeless man who had been sleeping inside the building for the past two weeks — grabbed the victim’s Playstation, X-Box 360, Samsung TV, bracelet, ring, $600, a pack of soap and a box of detergent.

Henry hold-up

Two thugs mugged a 26-year-old for her handbag on North Henry Street on Jan. 24.

The hoodlums shoved the victim to the ground near the corner of Engert Avenue at around 2:50 am and grabbed her purse.

“Let it go, Miss,” one of the thugs demanded.

The crooks fled towards Meeker Avenue, where they abandoned the handbag — minus the victim’s wallet and Blackberry cellphone, credit cards and $70.

Punchy perp

Cops nabbed a 20-year-old pugilist suspected of slugging a police officer in the back of the head on Jan. 19.

The thug allegedly punched the 39-year-old officer when she tried to break up a fistfight, knocking her to the ground at the corner of Manhattan and Greenpoint avenues at around 3:35 pm. Cops locked up the suspected slugger before he could get away.

Deliverance

A crook put the moves on a furniture mover on Jan. 20 when the thief snatched $1,877 from his delivery van.

The perp grabbed $1,559 in checks and $318 in cash from the white Volvo van while the victim was dropping off furniture on Newell Street between Greenpoint Avenue and Calyer Street at around 1:30 pm.

— Ben Muessig

©2009 Community Newspaper Group