Target trouble

Two thieves were arrested on May 5 when they supplanted an apparent smoking addiction with another bad habit — shoplifting.

Police said that the suspects, a 41-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman, were caught trying to swipe 18 packages of Nicorette gum from the Target in the Atlantic Terminal Mall on Flatbush and Atlantic avenues at 6:50 pm.

The two also tried to pocket 19 boxes of Prilosec heartburn treatment before store employees grabbed them and contacted police.

Marshalls menace

A fast-moving thief snagged a pocketbook from a woman’s shopping cart as she perused the aisles at Marshalls on May 7.

The 31-year-old woman told police that she was shopping in the department store, which is part of the Atlantic Center Mall, at Flatbush and Atlantic avenues at 5:30 pm when she turned away from her cart for just a few moments.

When she turned back, her bag, which contained $700, her credit cards and an Australian driver’s licence was gone.

Looking for Pookie

A heavy-handed thug nicknamed “Pookie” attacked a 58-year-old man on Classon Avenue early on May 5, police said.

Witnesses told cops that the victim was between Putnam Avenue and Fulton Street at 6 am when he was jumped.

Pookie reportedly punched his victim until he fell to the ground. He then kicked the man repeatedly before running off.

When cops arrived, the 58-year-old was semi-conscious and unable to tell police what sparked the attack.

Rock head

A young man brought a quick end to a heated spat on May 6 with the bluntest of rebuttals — a concrete rock.

Police said that the 21-year-old assailant and his victim were arguing at the corner of DeKalb and Vanderbilt avenues at 7:40 pm when the suspect tried to brain his opponent, leaving the man with a deep gash above his right eye.

Paramedics treated the victim’s wound while responding officers took the aggressor into custody, charging him with assault.

Day care devil

A thief broke into the Aspiring Stars Day Care Center on Gates Avenue on May 6, taking the children’s newest toy — a flat-screen television.

Police were told that someone entered the center, which is at Downing Street, sometime after 7:30 pm through a back door that was mistakenly left unlocked.

Phone grab

A 12-year-old boy lost his cellphone on May 5 when two quicker kids scooped it up off the street before he could.

The child told police that he was on Adelphi Street nearing DeKalb Avenue at 6 pm when he dropped his phone.

He was about to reach down and get it when two 13-year-old boys ran by, snatched it from its resting place, and ran off.

Van vixen

A brazen bandit broke into a commercial van on May 4 before the driver was out of earshot, police said.

The employee for Apartment Supplies Inc. said that he had parked the van on Park Avenue between Emmerson and Classon avenues at 11:30 am and was just paces away when he heard his door open and close.

When he turned, he saw a man running away from the van. The vehicle’s navigation system was in his hand, cops were told.

More car craziness

A Houdini-like hooligan broke into a car parked near the corner of Adelphi Street and Greene Avenue on May 8, but cops are not sure how he did it.

The 27-year-old owner of the looted 1996 Honda Civic admitted to leaving her purse in the car when she parked it at the corner of Adelphi Street and Greene Avenue, but swears up and down that she locked her vehicle before running off on her errand.

She returned an hour later and everything seemed normal — except that her bag had disappeared.

The thief managed to get into the car and swipe the bag without damaging the vehicle in any way, police were told.

©2010 Community Newspaper Group