Run down
A 60-year-old man was killed after being struck down by a hit and run driver in Brighton Beach.
Officials said that the victim was crossing the intersection of Brighton Beach Avenue and Brighton 4th Street just before 1:30 a.m. on March 14 when he was hit by a black Ford Explorer traveling eastbound on Brighton Beach Avenue.
The victim, who is believed to be homeless, died at the scene.
Cops were still looking for the motorist, who fled without stopping.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to come forward.
Calls can be made to the NYPD CrimeStoppers hotline at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
Hit by bus
A 59-year-old Sheepshead Bay woman was clinging to life this week after she was hit by a city bus.
Officials said that the woman was crossing the corner of Avenue Z near Haring Street at 7 a.m. March 15 when the off duty bus hit her.
She was rushed to Lutheran Medical Center, where doctors listed her in critical condition.
No charges had been filed as this paper went to press.
Man. Beach bonanza
A thief who broke into an Amherst Street home hit the mother lode this week. Not only did he score some pricey jewelry and two laptop computers, but he also managed to get the keys to the Lexus parked in the driveway.
Cops were told that someone broke into the home, located near Hampton Avenue, sometime between 10 a.m. and 7:15 p.m. on March 9.
The thief managed to enter the home through an unlocked basement door, police said.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to come forward.
Calls can be made to the 61st Precinct at (718) 627-6611. All calls will be kept confidential.
Nissan looter busted
Cops grabbed up a thief allegedly found breaking into a Nissan with Pennsylvania license plates in Bath Beach.
Officials alleged that Frank Pellegrino, 24, was seen breaking into the Nissan near the corner of Shore Parkway and Bay 46th Street at 12:40 a.m. on March 15. He had broken the window and was rummaging through the car when he was taken into custody, charged with criminal mischief, petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property.
iPod plucker busted
A 36-year-old man was in custody Sunday after he allegedly took part in a drive-by robbery in Gravesend.
Officials alleged that Rafael Sanchez and another man rolled up to a Ford E350 on West 8th Street near Avenue X at 3:35 a.m. on March 14 and pulled a gun on the driver, claiming that he was “looking for guns.”
He then told the motorist to look the other way as he reached in and robbed the motorist of his iPod and ring, police alleged.
Cops apprehended Sanchez in his getaway car. Three people were in the car with Sanchez when he was ultimately pulled over. All three were charged with criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of marijuana.
Damn that DNA!
A drop of blood left at a car break-in last year has led police to a sticky-fingered 40-year-old.
Prosecutors said that Garriy Danilov was arrested this week in connection with the October 15, 2009 incident on 70th Street near 19th Avenue.
He reportedly smashed the passenger window of a 2008 Honda sometime after 2 a.m. and swiped a MacBook Pro laptop valued at $3,500.
Police said that Danilov cut himself during the theft, however. Responding officers collected the blood and submitted it for DNA analysis. It was later matched to Danilov, who had his DNA in the state law enforcement database for an unrelated crime.
Cops took Danilov into custody without incident, charging him with grand larceny, criminal mischief and petit larceny.
Kitten caper
Cops are looking for a pair of teenage girls who stole a cuddly — but expensive — kitten from the White Poodle Pet Store, 102 West End Avenue.
A worker at the store said that the two girls, who were 14 or 15, walked in at 6:30 p.m. on March 11, grabbed a light cream-colored Scottish kitten on display and ran off with it.
The kitten, police were told, was valued at $500.
Teen robbed at knifepoint
A 17-year-old and a younger accomplice were in custody last week after they held up another teen at knifepoint, police alleged.
The victim told police she was on 80th Street near 16th Avenue at 1 p.m. on March 10 when Attique Kahn and the unnamed minor allegedly approached.
Prosecutors said that the minor was the one who pulled a knife on the victim, demanding that she empty everything from her pockets.
They ran off with a small video game, that was later recovered from Kahn’s person when they were taken into custody, charged with robbery in the first degree, grand larceny and menacing.
Pushy pleas
Cops are looking for three teenage girls who bum-rushed and robbed a 41-year-old woman as they fired off a sob story about a sick mother.
Police said that the woman was nearing the corner of Benson Avenue and Bay 22nd Street at 4:20 p.m. on March 3 when the three teens pushed the woman to the ground.
They then punched and kicked the woman as they tried to get her bag, all the while claiming that they needed the victim’s money because their “mom is sick.”
After a brief struggle, the victim finally handed $50 to the thieves, who ran off into the night.
Stopped and robbed
Two young toughs were arrested last week after they tried to rob another young man on Neptune Avenue, police alleged.
Police allege that Isiah Hightower, 19, and Gabriel Gonzalez, 18, stopped their victim near Ocean Parkway just before 1 a.m. on March 6 and wouldn’t let him pass unless he handed over his property.
After a few tense moments, the alleged thieves ran off, only to be apprehended by responding police officers.
Cops charged them with attempted robbery, menacing and harassment.
