See this story at BrooklynDaily.com.
By Matthew Perlman
Brooklyn Daily
84th Precinct
Brooklyn Heights–DUMBO–Boerum Hill–Downtown
Assaulted over an apple
A maniac put a fruit vendor in a chokehold for trying to stop him from stealing an apple at the corner of Willoughby Street on May 30, cops said.
The crazed fruit lover was with a woman and two small children when he snagged the produce from the stand at Adams Street at 9:10 pm, according to a police report. When the 43-year-old vendor tried to stop him, the brute started punching him in the face, put him in a chokehold, and took him to the ground, the report says.
The suspect then snatched $300 from the vendor’s pocket and herded his family into a cab at the corner of Jay and Willoughby streets, police said. Cops later tracked down the cabby who said he dropped them off at Willoughby Avenue and Emerson Place.
Worst burglar ever
Authorities are after a 52-year-old guy who they say broke into a Columbia Heights house and stole a bunch of electronics on May 30 — before giving everything back and taking off, but leaving behind his jacket which contained his identification.
The 31-year-old victim came home to her apartment between Clark and Pierrepont streets at 11:30 am and found it ransacked, according to a police report. The woman said five laptops, a baby monitor, a watch, and a wallet were all missing.
She went outside and noticed a man sitting on her steps and when she confronted him, he gave everything back, the report says. Then he left, but forgot his jacket, which police found to contain numerous forms of identification, cops said. Cops also said the baby monitor captured video of him inside the apartment.
Dinner disrupted
A quick crook snatched a woman’s purse while she dined with her boyfriend at a sidewalk table on Dean Street on May 26, authorities said.
The 37-year-old and her beau were eating outside a restaurant between Bond and Hoyt streets at 10:15 pm when the sneak snuck up and grabbed her handbag, which was hanging from the back of her chair, cops said.
The woman told police the guy took off on Bond towards Bergen street. The bag contained $20 in cash, a cellphone, debit, and credit cards, she said.
Punch-point robbery
Authorities apprehended a 23-year-old who they say punched a woman and took her phone on May 27 on Schermerhorn Street.
The victim told cops she was between Hoyt and Bond streets at 2:10 pm when the suspect punched her in the stomach and snatched her phone.
She found a police officer, and they tracked the phone to Glenwood Playground in Canarsie at the corner of Farragut Road and E. 59th Street, where they found the suspect and the missing phone, according to a police report.
Fighting the cops
A 35-year-old man was arrested for assaulting an officer and resisting arrest Warren Street on May 29.
Police said they stopped the suspect between Bond and Nevins streets at 4:40 pm and tried to place him under arrest.
The guy punched one officer in the shoulder and started flailing his arms and kicking to prevent him from putting cuffs on him, cops said.
Night burglar nabbed
Cops cuffed a 22-year-old who they say climbed up a fire escape on Remsen Street and broke into an apartment on May 30.
The 33-year-old victim told police he was sleeping in his apartment between Henry and Clinton streets at 2:41 am and woke up to find a burglar.
Subway stickup
A gunman and his partner assaulted and robbed a 36-year-old inside the Bergen Street subway station on May 30, authorities said.
The victim was on the stairway entering the station at the corner of Smith and Bergen streets when the two guys came up to him, one with a gun drawn, according to a police report. The ne’er-do-well with the heater said, “Give me all your money,” while the other goon went through the victim’s pockets, taking his wallet and phone, the report says.
When they tried to remove his backpack, their target fought back, but the gunman whacked him across the head with his piece and took the bag anyway, cops said.
The victim told cops they got his phone, $200 in cash, a debit card, a set of keys, and some work clothes.
Jewelry jacking
A couple of thugs jumped a man for his jewelry on Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights on May 31, police said.
The 25-year-old was near Henry Street at 2:30 am when two guys came up from behind and started punching him, authorities said. They grabbed a gold ring, a Cartier watch, and a gold neck chain, according to a police report.
They also got his phone, $70 in cash, and a debit card, the report says.
Wallet woes
Someone snatched a woman’s wallet as she chased her child in a clothing store on Fulton Mall on May 30, police said.
The 25-year-old mom was shopping in the store between Bond Street and Hanover Place at 3:30 pm and left her purse on her baby stroller when she went to chase down the kid, cops said.
When she returned home she noticed $300, and her debit and credit cards missing from the bag, police said.
Delivery guy loses his ride
Some sneak snatched a delivery guy’s motorized bike while he was making a delivery to a Gold Street apartment on May 31, authorities said.
The 23-year-old gofer left his ride locked up outside the building between Concord and Tillary streets while he dropped off some food on the eighth floor at 9:40 pm, cops said. When he emerged the bike was gone, they said.— Matthew Perlman