Crime & Safety

A Harrowing Cellphone Showdown in this Week's Police Blotter

A man courageously defends himself on the C train, and much more in this week's roundup of crime from within the 88th Precinct.

Cell Showdown

A pair of crafty thieves stole a man’s cellphone while he rode a Manhattan-bound C train on Feb. 24, but one of them ended up in handcuffs.

The 26-year-old victim told cops that the train was pulling into the Lafayette Avenue station at around 8:50 p.m. when the duo approached. One of them asked the victim if he could use his cellphone while the accomplice acted as a lookout.

Find out what's happening in Fort Greene-Clinton Hillwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The victim refused, and the perp then punched him in the face and flashed a knife. The victim still continued to fight, and dropped his phone while wrestling the knife out of his attacker’s hands. The lookout then grabbed the phone and said to his buddy, “Come on, the doors are closing!” The pair then made a run for it up to the street, but the victim gave chase and managed to flag down officer Jonathan Quinto. The cop arrested one 18-year-old suspect and recovered the victim’s cellphone.

Congested?

Find out what's happening in Fort Greene-Clinton Hillwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A thief was caught red-handed stealing nine boxes of Claritin from the Target at the Atlantic Terminal mall on Feb. 21.

A security officer spotted the suspect walking out of the store at Flatbush and Atlantic avenues at around 4 p.m. without paying for the boxes of allergy medicine. Officer Emory McClaney then stopped the perp and managed to slap him in handcuffs, but not before getting in a scuffle that destroyed a pair of security sensors.

Forced Entry

A pair of punks forced a man into his apartment at the Ingersoll Houses and stole his iPhone on Feb. 21.

The 23-year-old victim told cops he was approaching his apartment on St. Edwards Street between Park and Myrtle avenues at around 6:30 p.m. when the perps approached and stole his cellphone.

Purse Snatch

A thief grabbed a woman’s purse off of her shoulder while she was walking on Cumberland Street on Feb. 20.

The victim told cops she was between Lafayette and Greene avenues at around 11:30 p.m. when the thief made his move. She lost a credit card and $56.

Elder Robbed

A brutal thief pushed down a 73-year-old woman while trying to rob her purse on Feb. 25.

The victim told cops she was on St. James Place between Gates Avenue and Fulton Street at around 10:50 a.m. when the thief knocked her to the ground while stealing her bag. She then checked herself into for pain in her shoulder.

Officer Assaulted

A suspicious character outside of the Atlantic Terminal mall bit a cop after he was asked for ID on Feb. 21.

Officer Cherita Grey said she observed the suspect obstructing traffic and carrying a gravity knife on Flatbush Avenue at Atlantic Avenue at around 7 p.m. When Officer Grey approached the 22-year-old man and asked for his ID, he replied, “I don’t want to go to jail.” He then swung at the officer and bit her in the thumb — before going to jail, of course.

Car Break-In

A thief smashed the window of a car parked on Grand Avenue on Feb. 27 and stole an assortment of stuff worth $700.

The owner of the auto told cops he had parked it the day before between Park and Flushing avenues at around 11:30 p.m. When he returned a mere 40 minutes later his rear window was broken and he was missing a GPS system, a DeWart drill, a grinder and cash.

Bag Swipe

A thief swiped a man’s bag while he was walking on Feb. 25.

The victim told cops he was at Fulton Street and Ashland Place at around 2:30 p.m. when the bandit stole his bag containing a MetroCard, cash, and an mp3 player.

Car Vanished

A thief stole a car parked at Adelphi Street and Park Avenue on Feb. 24.

The owner of the auto told cops he had parked it the night before at around 9 p.m. When he returned 10 hours later it was gone.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Fort Greene-Clinton Hill