The employee coat rack at the new IHOP on Livingston Street was raided by a large-bodied man on Jan. 28.
The 6-foot-2, 220-pound perp entered the storage area in the back of the eatery — located near Bond Street — around 1 pm, and proceeded to search through pockets and took some of the more expensive clothing. The stolen items included a digital music player, a hooded coat, and some debit cards.
The thief’s actions were recorded by security cameras, but he escaped before anyone noticed the crime.
Willow break-in
A woman’s Willow Place apartment was broken into on Jan. 28 while she was at work.
The 34-year-old victim left her apartment — which is between State and Joralemon streets — at around 8 am and returned at 10 pm to discover that her laptop was gone.
Upon further examination, she realized that three pairs of gold earrings and a gold necklace had also been taken.
There was no sign of forced entry. Cops said the burglar may have entered through a kitchen window.
Overnite larceny
Some things only make sense at 1:30 in the morning.
For instance, in the wee hours of Feb. 3, a man harassed and robbed a 23-year-old and his girlfriend who were walking through the drive-through of a popular fast-food restaurant at the corner of Gold and Tillary streets. The perp, however, was picked up by cops a few minutes later.
The couple was paying for their midnight snack, when the crook approached them, snatched $40 from the man, and reached down and squeezed the woman’s behind. He then ran away, but not far enough. When cops arrived and searched the area, they found a suspect and put him in cuffs. The $40, however, was not recovered.
Rough customer
A routine transaction at an Atlantic Avenue drug store turned violent when the customer pulled a gun and emptied the register on Jan. 30.
The middle-aged customer entered the store, near Third Avenue, at around 1 pm, and approached the counter to ask for cigarettes. He even gave the clerk some money, but when she started to give him change he said, “Don’t close the register.” He displayed a silver handgun and threatened, “Scream if you want, but I’ll kill you.”
The terrified 22-year-old employee allowed him to take $400 from the open register before the man fled down Third Avenue.
Fake bondsman
A man impersonating a bail bondsman fleeced a woman out of $5,000 on Jan. 24 in the criminal court on Schermerhorn Street.
The phony bondsman said he could help the 59-year-old victim bail out her grandson from jail. Eager to get the ordeal over with, she gave him the money at 8:30 pm, and he promised to return soon to the court between Smith and Adams streets.
The man never returned, so the woman called the company where the impostor said he worked. An employee told the woman they’ve received several complaints about this masquerader defrauding people in other courts.
