Cut in thirds
Two women were held up at gunpoint for their phones, possibly by the same man, last week, according to officials.
A 35-year-old woman told police that she was walking past the corner of Henry and Remsen streets just after 8:30 p.m. on February 19 when a 20-year-old black male ran up to her.
“Give me your phone or I’ll shoot you,” the man threatened.
Not knowing what to do, the panicked woman ran off. The would-be gunman ran off in the opposite direction.
Three hours earlier, a second 35-year-old woman was robbed of her cell phone as she walked down Joralemon Street between Columbia Street and Willow Place, police said.
Police were told that a black male ran up behind the woman and stuck a heavy object in her back.
“Give me your phone or I’ll shoot you,” the thief said.
The woman handed her iPhone to the thief, who was last seen running toward Hicks Street.
Officials said that, while simple, the statements in these two incidents are too similar to ignore.
Anyone with information regarding these heists are asked to come forward.
Calls can be made to the 84th Precinct at (718) 875-6811. All calls will be kept confidential.
Tug of war over phone
A 24-year-old played “keep away” with a thief dead set on snagging her iPhone last week.
The woman said that she was walking along St. Mark’s Place near Third Avenue at 8:40 p.m. February 21 when three men stopped her, asking her for the time.
When she pulled out her iPhone to check, one of the thieves grabbed it from her hand.
Using her cat-like reflexes, the woman snatched the phone back, police were told.
This back and forth probably could have gone on forever if one of the thieves didn’t pull a gun, bringing the game to a quick close.
The suspects grabbed the phone one last time and ran off with it, the woman told police.
Bruised on bus
A bus driver was “caned” last week when an allegedly unhinged passenger flew into a rage after missing his stop.
Officials said that the bus was rolling past the corner of Sands and Gold streets at 1:40 p.m. February 18 when 37-year-old Hector Marrero allegedly started screaming at the female driver.
“I want to get off,” Marrero yelled after missing his spot.
The woman bus driver told Marrero that she was going to drop him off at the next stop, but that wasn’t good enough.
Marrero allegedly raised his cane and struck the woman in the pelvic area, causing a minor injury.
Cops and paramedics were called to the bus.
Marrero was taken into custody without incident, charged with assault.
Shack stealers sought
Cops are looking for the two thieves who lashed at a local Radio Shack employee with a blade when he caught them shoplifting.
The worker told police that he was preparing to close up at 6:35 p.m. on February 15 when he noticed the two men cutting the security cables to some cameras sitting on a display case.
When he tried to stop them, one of the thief lashed out with his tool, cutting through his clothes.
The second man kicked the victim, according to cops, who said that four cameras were stolen during the thieves’ hasty escape.
Sticky fingers
Nimble thieves spent last week hanging around local eateries, according to police.
Officials said that someone swiped a pocketbook from a woman as she finished paying for a meal at Tio Pio on Willoughby Street at 9:30 a.m. on February 19.
The woman told police that she had put her pocketbook into a shopping bag just before she turned around and paid her check.
She then grabbed her shopping bag and left, only to discover that someone plucked her purse from the bag while she was occupied.
Three days earlier, a sticky-fingered thief made off with a woman’s wallet after she bought breakfast at Au Bon Pain at MetroTech.
The woman said that she put her wallet on the counter as she paid for her food.
After she paid, she turned back to her wallet to discover that someone had already made off with it.
More stickiness
Cops were called to the UA Court Street Stadium 12 on two separate occasions last week, but not to catch the latest police drama.
Officials said that they went to the theater, located on 106 Court Street, on the afternoon of February 14 after someone swiped a woman’s purse as she watched a feature.
The 32-year-old victim said that she put the bag on the seat next to her, but left the theater without it.
She suddenly realized her mistake and ran back within in five minutes, but someone had already helped themselves to it.
Three days later, a woman said that someone plucked her Blackberry out of her pocket as she made her way through the crowded lobby.
The woman said that she noticed her phone was gone just after two males bumped into her.
