Cyber cop charlatans
A Craig’s List connection went horribly wrong last week when a 31-year-old man was robbed by a duo that lured him to Sheepshead Bay under the guise that they were going to sell him a handful of computers.
To add insult to injury, the thieves pulled badges on the victim, claiming that they were police officers.
The victim told authorities said that he had met the two suspects on Craig’s List during his search for a computer sale.
The suspects said that they had seven computers to sell for $8,000 and asked to meet up on Shore Parkway near East 28th Street.
When the victim arrived at 11:30 p.m. on November 24, the suspects came out carrying bags, but quickly flashed what looked like police badges, cops were told.
The suspects claimed that they were cops and that the victim was under arrest for attempting to buy stolen goods, officials said.
They handcuffed the victim, threw him in the back of his own car and took the $8,000 that he had brought to buy the computers before running up Shore Parkway toward Nostrand Avenue.
The victim was reportedly found handcuffed inside his own car.
Responding officers freed the 31-year-old, but allegedly found four bags of marijuana stashed in the victim’s car.
The would-be cops planted the drugs, the victim claimed.
As this paper went to press, cops were trying to locate the two bogus cops and corroborate the victim’s story.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the 61st Precinct at (718) 627-6611. All calls will be kept confidential.
Love stab
A Gravesend man was stabbed in the leg during a spat with his ex-girlfriend, cops from the 60th Precinct said this week.
Officials said that the quarreling couple was inside an apartment on West 11th Street near Avenue W in the Marlboro Houses at 2 a.m. on November 27 when the 54-year-old woman lunged at him with a knife.
Cops from the 60th Precinct said that the victim had to go to an area hospital to be treated for deep cuts to his leg.
The woman, who was not named because of her relationship to the victim, was taken into custody, charged with assault, menacing and criminal possession of a weapon.
Picasso purloiners
A man was mugged by two graffiti vandals tagging up a Bensonhurst corner last week, police from the 62nd Precinct alleged.
The 23-year-old said that he had noticed the two men, identified as Raul Cortes and Jose Montiel, both 18, allegedly spray-painting a nearby wall as he left his apartment building on 76th Street near 16th Avenue at 5:50 a.m. Friday.
But as he walked away, the two men ran up to him and demanded his money, police alleged.
The suspects threw a bottle at their victim as they robbed him of a small amount of money, police alleged.
Responding officers soon arrived, allegedly finding Cortes and Montiel in possession of a shotgun and several shotgun shells.
The two alleged thieves were trying to get rid of the shotgun as police arrived, officials said.
Cops charged them with robbery and criminal possession of a weapon.
Choo-choo charlatan
Cops were called to the Stillwell Avenue station in Coney Island last week to arrest a 47-year-old train buff allegedly responsible for palming several pieces of New York City Transit Authority property.
NYCTA employees told police that they found Ruben Wilson at the station just after 5 p.m. on November 30. He had an NYCTA conductor badge, a NYCTA cleaning bucket, a set of keys, an NYCTA hat and a set of graffiti wipes — all of which were swiped from a nearby storage area, officials alleged.
When workers at the station failed to recognize their new employee, they asked Wilson to show them some NYCTA identification, which he was unable to provide, officials alleged.
Cops from the 60th Precinct took Wilson into custody without incident, charging him with criminal impersonation, petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property.
Senior robbed
Cops are looking for a 25-year-old man responsible for beating an 83-year-old woman during a purse-snatching on 17th Avenue near 71st Street.
Police were told that the senior was nearing the corner at 6 p.m. on November 28 when the suspect, described only as a black male, ran up and pushed her to the ground.
The thug then punched the victim in the head and made off with her purse, which contained $1,500.
The senior suffered a bump to her head and some cuts to her face as a result of the attack.
Cops are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to come forward.
Calls can be made to the 62nd Precinct at (718) 236-2611. All calls will be kept confidential.
