76th Precinct
Carroll Gardens-Cobble Hill–Red Hook
Paint running
Cops chased and cuffed a guy who they say was spraying graffiti on a Hicks Street building on May 26.
A vigilant neighbor saw the suspect tagging the building between First Place and Woodhull Steet and called police around 2:56 am on Monday, police said.
When cops showed up, the illicit painter split, but officers caught up to him, found fresh paint on his hands, and booked him, according to law enforcement sources.
No free rides
Cops cuffed a Columbia Street woman who they say skipped out on her cab fare on May 24.
The cab driver told police the suspect took a ride from Nostrand Avenue and Eastern Parkway back to her Red Hook home between Centre Mall and Mill Street, but when the taxi reached its destination, she jumped out without paying. The cabbie called the cops, and the woman was charged with theft of service, police said.
Inventory issues
A burglar raided a Clinton Street clothing store sometime overnight on May 23, according to the authorities.
Police say the prowler pinched clothing and $800 in cash from the store between Mill and W. Ninth streets some time between 7:30 pm on May 23 and 7:30 am on May 24.
The intruder probably entered through a basement door, which is connected to five adjoining buildings and was left unlocked, police said.
An edgy hobby
A supposedly blade-happy bloke was collared for allegedly flashing illegal knives on Hicks Street on May 25.
Cops collared the man between Centre Mall and Mill Street around 8 pm, law enforcement officials said. Officers found two gravity knives on his person, police sources said. The weapons can be opened with a flick of the wrist and are illegal in New York City, cops said.
Saving face
Two cash-strapped scalawags socked a man in the kisser after he refused to hand over his money on Baltic Street on May 26, according to the authorities.
The victim reported he was between Court and Smith streets around 4:45 am when the goons approached and demanded he hand over all his money.
The victim refused and the pair pummelled him in the face, cutting it and making it swell up like crazy, according to a report.
Open season
A burglar waltzed into an unlocked Coffey Street home sometime over the Memorial Day weekend and took off with the owner’s cash, police reported.
The victim said she left her pad between Richards and Dwight streets around 10:30 am on May 25 and returned at 2 pm the next day to find about $4,000 in cash from a dresser drawer missing.
The crook forced open a barred gate and entered the home through an unlocked door, the authorities said.
— Max Jaeger
