By Thomas TracyWar on warehouses
A recent gunpoint robbery inside a neighborhood warehouse has been connected to a number of other heists in the area, police said.
On January 11, two black males armed with handguns entered a warehouse on Centre Street between Smith and Court Streets and robbed a 43-year-old man inside.
Police said that cops have connected the thieves to four similar robberies in the nearby 78th Precinct in Park Slope and the 72nd Precinct in Sunset Park.
Officials said that the thieves robbed a Butler Street warehouse near Third Avenue on January 7, where they stole money from a female employee. They also held up three warehouses in December and November — on Fifth Street in Park Slope on December 30, a 48th Street location on December 18, and a 13th Street warehouse on November 27.
Cops are asking anyone with information regarding these two men to come forward.
Calls can be made to the NYPD CrimeStoppers hotline at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
Playground pugilism
Cops were called to stop a schoolyard scuffle — sparked by adults — at the corner of Hoyt and Union streets last week.
The brawl, which involved up to 10 people, reportedly broke out over a soccer game inside the school yard at 2:35 p.m. on January 24.
Witnesses said that two groups of adults were playing soccer in the yard when women from both teams began arguing with each other.
When one of the men intervened, an all-out brawl broke out, officials said.
At least two men and one woman suffered injuries. An 11-year-old girl was also struck in the face — although it is believe that she was hit accidentally.
Cops rounded up eight people, five men and three women all between 21 and 50, at the scene, charging them all with assault.
The young girl was taken to Long Island College Hospital for observation.
Crazy ride
Two thieves in a stolen car led police on a chase from Carroll Gardens to Brooklyn Heights last week — a pursuit that would have kept going if the they didn’t damage the car so badly that it wouldn’t work anymore.
Police said that they saw the car near the corner of Richards and Pioneer Street at 4 p.m. on January 22 and were about to pull it over for a traffic violation when the vehicle sped off.
Thus began a break-neck chase through the community in which the maniacal motorist struck several parked cars, as well as a pursuing police cruiser, injuring the officer inside.
Two men abandoned the car on Remsen Street when it wouldn’t run anymore, ditching not only their broken hot wheels but an amount of marijuana they had on them.
Cops apprehended the duo, later identified as Adrian Montesino and Nelson Rivera, both 20, charging them with reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a controlled substance, vehicular assault and car theft.
Police Officer Kenny Cunningham and Sergeant Michael Hain were credited with the arrest.
Columbia St. douse
A heartless 13-year-old girl was taken into custody last week on charges that she emptied a fire extinguisher on a mentally handicapped man.
Police said that the teen was arguing with his 50-year-old victim on Columbia Street near Huntington Street at 2:45 p.m. on January 19 when she picked up the fire extinguished and sprayed the man in the face.
The young woman, who has been in trouble with the law before, police note, then ran to Bush Street, where she was arrested and charged with assault.
The girl’s name was not released because of her age.
Friendly thievery
Some pals will do anything for each other — even steal a car impounded by the police.
Officials said that an 18-year-old was arrested near the 76th Precinct stationhouse last week after he allegedly tried to “steal back” a friend’s car that the police had impounded and vouchered.
Suspect Elliot Sims was seen allegedly trying to remove a tire with an NYPD “boot” attached at the corner of Hicks and Sackett streets just after midnight on January 25.
Cops caught him and took him into custody, only to find out that there was a warrant out for his arrest on an unrelated charge.
Police Officer Johnny Pena was credited with the arrest.
It was unclear why the car had been impounded as this paper went to press.
Caught in the closet
This would probably come as a surprise to anyone: A man comes home, looks into his nephew’s room and finds a strange man hiding in his closet.
That stranger, it turns out, was a thief trying to swipe cash and other valuables from the home.
Police said that 24-year-old Edward Sanders allegedly wormed his way into the Visitation Place home at 7:45 p.m. on January 17 by pushing in an air conditioner sticking out of a window.
Sanders was allegedly in his 25-year-old victim’s room when the uncle came home, said police.
He hid in the closet, but was soon discovered.
“I’m friends with [the victim],” he allegedly stammered, making up a quick excuse for being there. “[The victim] let me in.”
Sanders then ran out of the house with $400 of the victim’s money, police alleged.
Cops took Sanders, who apparently knew the family from the neighborhood, into custody the next day, charging him with burglary.
Trader Joe’s take
A sticky-fingered thief made off with a woman’s wallet as she shopped in Trader Joe’s on Court Street.
The woman told police that the wallet was plucked from her shopping cart as she perused the aisles of the popular grocery store at 11:45 a.m. on January 22.
Whoever took the wallet used the credit cards to purchase “numerous” unlimited MetroCards at an area train station, officials said.
Bag swipe
Cops are looking for two thieves who ripped a woman’s purse off her shoulder as she walked down Hamilton Avenue last week.
The 17-year-old victim said that she was walking past the Mobil station near Smith Street at 9:15 p.m. on January 15 when two thieves ran up to her and yanked the purse from her arm. They pulled with such force that the strap snapped, officials said.
A teen at the gas station, tried to intervene but was assaulted for his sense of samaritanship, officials said.
The thieves then ran off, reportedly firing a gunshot as they escaped.
Cops are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to come forward.
Calls can be made to the 76th Precinct at (718) 834-3211. All calls will be kept confidential.
Prying crime
A Fourth Place resident returned home last week to find that someone had tried to pry his way into her apartment.
The woman told police that she left the home, located between Clinton and Henry streets, at 6 p.m. on January 9. When she returned at 9 a.m. the following the morning, she discovered several pry marks on her door and entryway.
The lock on the door wasn’t breached, officials said.
