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Fake Con Edison man cons bodega out of $1,000

61st Precinct

Sheepshead Bay—Homecrest—
Manhattan Beach—Gravesend

Con-man Edison

A con artist posing as a Con-Edison worker scammed the owner of a Sheepshead Bay Road bodega out of $1,000 on Nov. 22.

The victim told police that he was in his store between E. 15th and E. 16th streets at 11 am when the crook, posing as a Con Edison bill collector, called the store and demanded cash.

“I am Con-Ed,” the con allegedly croaked. “You owe us money.”

The hapless bodega owner then forked over $1,000, transferring it into the thief’s account through two debit cards.

It could have been worse, however. The Con-Ed imposter had demanded exactly $1,803.47, before the victim realized he was getting scammed, cops said.

Cleaning spree

Cops are on the hunt for a slippery couple wanted for pilfering cleaning supplies and bath products from an Avenue U pharmacy on Nov. 21, using the art of distraction and a baby carriage to make a clean getaway.

A worker told police that he was working at the store between 27th and 28th avenues at 2:20 pm when a man came into the store alongside a woman pushing a baby carriage. The fellow started up a conversation with the pharmacy clerk, but, after about five minutes, left without buying anything.

It wasn’t until a store employee reviewed security footage that they realized the man had been drawing attention away from his lady friend, who had been stuffing her baby carriage with Glade candles, Windex, Clorox, a mop, and a Conair Iron.

Fortunately, cops said there was no baby in the carriage, not there would have been any room.

House arrest

Cops are looking for a 25-year-old man who they say kidnapped and imprisoned his ex-girlfriend inside her own E. 16th Street apartment on Nov. 17, holding her there for four days.

The victim told police that she was inside her apartment between Avenues X and Y at midnight, when her ex stormed in and her unlawful sentence began. Throughout her ordeal, the suspect beat the victim, who suffered cuts and bruises on her head and face, cops said.

It’s not clear whether the woman was able to escape, or if her nasty ex got cold feet.

Whatever the case, the woman walked into the 61st Precinct station house on Coney Island Avenue at 9 pm on Nov. 21, two hours after she was able to leave her home, cops said.

Bad dreams

A bugler looted a man’s E. 29th Street home of his laptop and wallet on Nov. 23.

The victim told police that he fell fast asleep inside his house between Avenues W and X at midnight, and woke up the next morning to realize he slept through a break in. As he slept, some crook had managed to open his front window, slip in, and nab his $500 Sony Vaid laptop and his wallet, which contained his passport, bank card, and driver’s license, among other things, cops said.

Shove and steal

A crook robbed a man on West Street on Nov. 23, taking his cellphone.

The victim told police that he was near Avenue X at 11:30 pm when the suspect ran up to and shoved him. As the man stumbled, his phone slipped out of his pocket, and the crook scooped it off the ground and fled on foot, cops said.

Idle thief

Someone drove off with a 61-year-old man’s Grand Am on Sheepshead Bay Road on Nov. 24.

The victim told police that he left his car running between E. 15th and E. 16th streets at 11:40 pm as he ran into a nearby store. The victim returned about five minutes later to, unfortunately, an empty spot.

Witnesses said they saw a man wearing a black-and-red hooded jacket jump into the car while its owner was in the store, and then peel out in flight, according to police.

— Colin Mixson

Reach reporter Colin MIxson at cmixson@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-4514.