76th Precinct
Carroll Gardens-Cobble Hill–Red Hook
A van, a plan
Three men robbed a man taking a stroll near the Ninth Street Bridge in Gowanus on July 25 — but the victim was rescued by a mysterious man in a white van who scared off the desperate fiends.
A 35-year-old man was near Smith Street at around 9:45 am when he was accosted by three thugs, one of whom brandished a knife while his two partners restrained the victim.
Suddenly, a man in a white van pulled up, frightening the trio, which scattered, dropping the purloined wallet, but not before taking $40, a MetroCard and a debit card.
Weird tag
Four men robbed a Huntington Street warehouse, brutalizing three workers inside on July 29.
Victims told cops that four masked men — armed with a handgun, machete and a baseball bat — burst into the warehouse between Columbia and Hicks streets at around 9 pm.
Cops said the robbers were searching for a safe, and demanded money from each of the three victims. The victims were hit in the face with the gun, and smacked in the torso and shoulders with the baseball bat. Before the foul foursome departed, they tied the victims and scrawled on the wall “CBI” — a mysterious acronym cops said they are investigating.
The robbers made off with two cellphones, $270, a $800 gold chain — but no safe.
Bag hooked
Yet another bag was stolen at the Red Hook IKEA, this time an unattended backpack on July 13.
The 63-year-old victim told cops that he set down his pack while measuring children’s furniture inside the store at Beard and Ostego streets at around 8 pm. When he went to retrieve his pack, it — and the MetroCard and bank card within it — was nowhere to be found.
Bold thief
A teen snatched a woman’s phone from her hands as she stood on Atlantic Avenue on Aug. 1.
The 39-year-old victim was between Henry and Clinton streets at 8 pm when a teen rode by on a bicycle and snatched the phone, a Blackberry Bold valued at $499.
Left 1 behind
Someone stole a car parked at Henry Street and Fourth Place overnight on July 31.
The 63-year-old owner of the 2005 Nissan Altima told cops that she parked the car in front of her other vehicle at around 1 pm on July 30. When she returned at 11 am the next day, the car was missing.
— Gary Buiso
