Ick-ea

At least two shoppers at Ikea were robbed in separate incidents at the Beard Street behemoth last week. Here’s a roundup:

• A woman who left her purse and other items in the bathroom at around 6:30 pm on Dec. 14 returned to find that $700 and various cards had been taken.

• Three days later, a thief stole the wallet of a woman who was enjoying a snack at the furniture store’s beloved cafeteria. The victim told cops that she noticed the 1 pm theft when she went to make a purchase. She lost $100 and a $200 gift card.

Stone cold

Two perps mugged a woman on Garnet Street early on Dec. 14, getting her fancy bag.

The victim told cops that she was between Smith and Court streets at around 4:15 am when two thugs came over, and one said, “Give me your s–t.”

The woman turned over a John Weitz bag, which contained $105 and various cards.

Shoplifted

A brutal, gum-loving shoplifter was arrested after injuring two CVS employees on Dec. 15, tossing them aside like rag dolls when they tried to stop his escape.

The employees told cops that they noticed the thief stocking up on gum at around 4:30 pm inside the store, which is between First and Second places. When one employee tried to delay the thief’s departure, the thug pushed him into a battery display. A second employee was also tossed aside.

Cops offered few details, but a 39-year-old was later arrested, still carrying 29 packs of gum worth a whopping $150, police said.

Hex president

A thief broke into a President Street apartment during the day on Dec. 16, getting away with more than just spare change.

The couple that lives in the apartment, which is between Smith and Hoyt streets, told cops that neither the husband nor wife was home between 11 am and 6:20 pm, when the wife returned to find that a thief had broken in and taken a glass jar filled with $500 in change, a gold bracelet with a “K” engraved into it, and $400.

Quick pick

A thief picked a wallet out of a woman’s jacket at Hanley’s Bar late in the wee hours last week.

The victim told cops that she was inside the tavern, which is at Fourth Place, from 11 pm on Dec. 17 until 3 am the next morning. When the 43-year-old went to settle up her tab, she noticed that her wallet, which had been in the coat that she’d left on a chair, was gone.

She lost only cards.

Found murdered

Cops are hunting for a killer who gunned down a 29-year-old drummer in his Fourth Street apartment on Dec. 11.

Cops discovered the body of Troy Young in a basement apartment between Smith and Hoyt streets after a friend reported that he had not heard from the musician for a few days.

Cops found the man on the floor, shot once in the head.

Paintball perp

Cops have arrested one of five teens who raided a Baltic Street apartment on Dec. 12.

The victim, 19, told cops that he was in his apartment near Bond Street at 1:50 pm when the five suspects forced their way into his home, pistol-whipped him with a paintball gun and swiped a PlayStation 3 console and cellphone before running off.

The robbery took place in front of two young children, officials said.

Cops later collared a 15-year-old.

Two on one

Police are looking for two thugs responsible for bullying a 26-year-old man out of his wallet on Clinton Street on Dec. 9.

The victim said that he was nearing First Place at 8:15 pm when the two suspects ran up to him and demanded his wallet.

“Give it to me or we’ll punch you,” one member of the duo threatened.

Surrounded, the victim did what he was told and handed over cash, a MetroCard and a credit card.

Shed raid

Thieves broke into a Conover Street photography studio overnight on Dec. 8, taking $7,400 worth of pricey camera equipment.

The victim told cops that someone broke into a backyard shed sometime after 11:30 pm, though he was uncertain how the thief entered the shed, which is protected by both a wooden and a metal fence.

©2009 Community Newspaper Group