84th Precinct
Brooklyn Heights–DUMBO–Boerum Hill–Downtown
American picker
A patriotic prowler stole five flagpoles from a construction site on Cadman Plaza West on June 29.
A Transportation Department employee told cops that he left the poles, draped with American flags, near Prospect Street at 11 am. When he returned the next morning, the $500 beams were gone.
Park rustler
A bandit on the Brooklyn Heights promenade stole a woman’s purse from a park bench on July 1.
The 18-year-old victim told police that she left the bag unattended at 11:35 pm. When she went to retrieve the sack, it was gone. She later found it in a trash can on Remsen and Hicks streets, but her iPod, sunglasses, camera and cards were gone — along with what she says was one of the first two-dollar bills ever printed.
Clean house
Someone purloined a woman’s wallet from her hotel room on Adams Street on July 2.
The California victim left her room at the Marriott hotel near Willoughby Street at 11:40 am. When she returned an hour later, cleaning staff were there, but her billfold was gone.
The thief scored $735, her U.S. passport and cards.
Camera ready
A lucky thief stole a bag of tech toys from a straphanger on Court Street on June 29.
The 40-year-old victim was at the Brooklyn-bound 2 train platform near Joralemon Street around 10:30 am, and set his camera and laptop on the floor. When the train arrived, his knapsack was gone.
The crook got away with a MacBook, Canon SLR, lenses, and memory cards.
Phone it in
A trio of bandits robbed a man of his iPhone on Bergen Street on July 2.
The victim told police that he was near Nevins Street at 12:11 am when the rogues surrounded him. One of the thieves asked, “What do you have in your pockets?” while another rummaged through the man’s pants.
Once the thieves had his phone, the first thief asked if the man had anything else, to which he replied, “Isn’t the iPhone enough?”
The devious triumvirate then fled east on Bergen Street.
Two-wheel steal
Someone stole a motorcycle from Livingston Street on July 1.
The 49-year-old biker told cops that he chained his $13,500 wheels around a tree near Clinton Street at 8:30 am. The Manhattan man returned that afternoon, but only the lock remained.
Bad news
A burglar stole cash and cigarettes from a Montague Street newsstand on July 2.
The 60-year-old victim told police that he left his stall near Henry Street at 7 pm. When he got to work the next morning, $3,100, plus 300 phone cards and 20 packs of cigarettes, were gone.
Game over
An intruder made it big after breaking into an Atlantic Avenue apartment and stealing bundles of electronics.
Three roommates told police that they left their pad near Hicks Street at noon. When they returned that night, they were bereft of three MacBook Pros, cameras, video games, Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3 consoles, a jar filled with $200, and other electronic loot.
Delivered goods
Police arrested a suspect in connection with several thefts at a Poplar Street residence last month.
A wily crook struck the condo near Hicks Street between June 13 and June 22, stealing boxes of baby clothes, shoes and soap.
Cops arrested a 34-year-old man on June 27 after getting a description from the building’s super.
Subterranean heist
A housebreaker purloined a guitar and music gear from a Gold Street condo on July 1.
Two victims told cops that they last saw their stuff at 3 am in a basement storage area in the building near Front Street.
When they returned to their cache an hour later, the door latch was broken and their belongings were gone—including a Fender bass guitar, audio record, bicycle, and fine china worth $1,500.
Morning watch
A daytime cat burglar plundered two Atlantic Avenue apartments on June 28.
Residents told police that they received calls from neighbors saying that a thief had broken into their building near Hoyt Street that morning.
A 36-year-old victim told police that he left his place at 8:50 am and that when he returned he found his door forced open and his MacBook Pro, flat-screen TV and iPod gone.
Another 30-year-old victim said that a thief took her Mac laptop, Adobe software, hard drive, engagement ring and $125 kitchen knife.
Nail brush
An angry customer threw chemicals onto a Fulton Street nail salon employee on July 1.
The 22-year-old victim told cops that she was doing a woman’s nails at 12:23 pm when the patron went wild. The woman hurled acetone chemicals onto the victim’s neck and arm, sending her to the hospital.
Police arrested a 48-year-old suspect at the parlor near Jay Street shortly after.
Saving bank
A two-bit swindler tried to rob a Chase Bank on DeKalb Avenue on June 30 but was scared off after a teller pushed an alarm button.
The employee told cops that he was at the bank near Flatbush Avenue Extension at 12:50 pm when the would-be robber passed him a very descriptive note.
“This is a robbery,” the memo read. “Give me all your $10,000 stacks and all ya money! Don’t make a scene. If you do then I’mma shoot this bank up!”
The unfazed teller switched on an alarm and the bandit ran out.
Motormouth
An irate driver struck a 34-year-old woman in the face with a baseball bat after they started fighting on Myrtle Avenue on June 27.
The victim told cops that she had a dispute with another motorist near Flatbush Avenue Extension at 8:15 pm. The attacker whacked her with the bat during the argument and then fled east on Myrtle Avenue in a silver vehicle.
The woman was sent to the hospital for her injuries.
Trunk steal
A thief broke into a car on Nevins Street on July 3, swiping a pocketbook from the trunk.
The 27-year-old victim told police that she parked near Schermerhorn Street at 5 pm. When she returned two hours later, her handbag was gone.
Fast feud
A devious employee at the Fulton Street McDonald’s snatched a coworker’s wallet on June 24.
The 19-year-old victim told police that she left her purse in a back room at about 10 pm when she left the eatery. She returned to the fast-food joint near Lawrence Street two hours later and realized her billfold was gone — along with her passport, $80 and school ID.
The thief also took home her $229 paycheck.
Flicked off
A crook stole the iPod and wallet from a car on Schermerhorn Street on June 29 as the owner went to the movies.
The 19-year-old victim told police that she parked near Court Street at 8:30 pm to see a flick at a theater around the corner. When she returned to her car at 11 pm, she discovered that her money, MP3 player and global positioning device were gone.
Workaround
A grifter stole a fellow worker’s pocketbook from an office on Joralemon Street on June 21.
The 38-year-old victim told police that she left her purse in the building near Court Street at 6 pm. When she returned a half hour later, it was gone.
College pry
A thief swiped a student’s wallet from a classroom on Willoughby Street on July 1.
The 41-year-old victim told police that she left her bag in a classroom at ASA College, which is near Jay Street, at 7:30 am. When she left the school hours later, she realized her billfold was gone.
Foodie thief
A sneaky scoundrel grabbed a purse from an elderly woman at a Montague Street grocery on June 29.
The 84-year-old victim told police she was at gourmet market Garden of Eden at 5:10 pm when she felt someone bump into her walker. Shortly after she realized her bag was gone.
The thief left the store, which is near Clinton Street, with the woman’s iPod touch, cellphone, and $40.
— Kate Briquelet
