Short sighted
A 33-year-old “sniper” was arrested on Dec. 13 when he was seen aiming an air rifle at hapless pedestrians from the window of his E. 89th Street home.
One of the Canarsie resident’s victims told police he was walking between Bedell Lane and Farragut Road at 8 am when he saw a red laser beam coming out of the suspect’s window. The red beam was aimed at the man’s chest, he said, adding that he also saw the barrel of the 33-year-old’s air rifle sticking out of the window.
Cops from the 69th Precinct were called to the scene, where they charged the would-be gunman with menacing and criminal possession of a weapon.
Muggers arrested
Police have arrested two men wanted for a Nov. 30 mugging at the corner of Farragut Road and E. 105th streets.
A young woman told police that the two thugs, the youngest 33, the oldest 41, jumped her at 10:15 am and beat her until she gave up her cash, cellphone and jewelry.
Bank boob
A thief tried to knock over a Ralph Avenue bank on Dec. 10 — not knowing that two cops were using the ATM in the lobby at the time.
Workers told police that the 34-year-old thief, a Canarsie resident, entered the Capital One Bank, which is between Avenues K and L, at 9:47 am wearing a ski mask and holding a laundry bag.
When the brazen boob reached a teller, he told the bank employee to “fill the bag up” with the money from her cash drawer.
But his appearance surprised bankers — at least one of whom ran up to two cops who had just walked into the bank, reporting a robbery in progress.
The cops jumped into action — right when the thief turned to leave with his sack full of cash — placing the thief into custody without incident.
Soused on Seaview
A 60-year-old man was arrested on Dec. 8 after he was caught drunk behind the wheel of his idling car at the corner of Seaview Avenue and Paerdegat Avenue North.
Police said that the motorist was found inside the 2005 Lexus at 4 am. His Breathalyzer score was equivalent to a 180 pound man having five drinks, police said.
Franchise fiend
Cops are trying to determine if the same man is responsible for two recent robberies at local fast food franchises.
Workers at a Flatlands Avenue Subway restaurant said that a man entered their store on Dec. 4 and took $240 from the till.
He reportedly entered the store, which is between E. 78th and E. 79th streets, at 8 pm and acted as if he had a gun in his pocket, but never showed his pistol.
No injuries were reported.
The next day someone raided a Dunkin’ Donuts on Ralph Avenue between E. 78th and E. 79th streets at 3 pm, also pretending to have a gun in his pocket, and fled with a small amount of cash, police were told.
Cops are asking anyone with information regarding these two incidents to come forward. Calls can be made to the 69th Precinct at (718) 257-6211. All calls will be kept confidential.
Access-a-rob
A gun-toting thief was buzzed into a Foster Avenue Access-a-Ride office on Nov. 23, where he took $10,000 in receipts.
Workers at the store, which is near E. 105th Street, said that the thief approached security guards at 10 am claiming that he was there for a job interview.
Security guards had him sign in and sent him upstairs, where he robbed the payroll office, police were told.
Help wipe out graffiti
As the ongoing war against graffiti vandalism continues, cops are offering a $500 reward to anyone with information that can help them arrest neighborhood vandals.
The hefty reward is part of the city’s ongoing push to rid New York of graffiti, the leading quality of life complaint brought to police.
Anyone with information about graffiti vandalism in their neighborhood is urged to contact either 311 or 911.
