By Thomas Tracy
HE WAS JUST LET OUT – NOW HE’S GOING BACK IN: A convicted burglar who was released last year after a seven-year stint in the slammer was put back behind bars last week after he was caught breaking into an East Flatbush home, police alleged. Police allege that a homeowner from the 280 block of East 52nd Street came home to find Favian Benjamin inside his residence. The two men struggled, but Benjamin quickly got the upper hand by shoving his hand in his pocket, as if he had a gun, police alleged. Benjamin, officials alleged, didn’t have a gun. All he had in his pocket was the pry bar he allegedly used to force open his victim’s door. Cops, however, were already on their way. As Benjamin tried to make his escape, Lt. Rob Ortlieb and Police Officer Don Nelson quickly subdued him and took him into custody. *** COPS INVESTIGATE HIT AND RUN: Cops are looking for the driver of a dark-colored vehicle who ended the life of a 53-year-old man Friday night. Officials said that the victim, who was not named, was crossing in front of 616 Rogers Avenue at 10 p.m. on January 13 when he was struck down. All witnesses saw was a dark-colored vehicle speeding away, officials said. The victim was taken to Kings County Hospital, where he died of his injuries 15 minutes later. Cops are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to come forward. Tipsters could receive up to $2,000 for information leading to the motorist’s arrest and conviction. Calls can be made to the NYPD CrimeStoppers hotline at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential. *** INDEBTED, BUT NOT DEAD: A 23-year-old man was shot in East Flatbush last week, allegedly by a man he owed money to, officials said last week. Police said that the alleged gunman, identified as 33-year-old Robert Wilson, was taken into custody on January 12 for the shooting, which took place near the corner of Hawthorne Street and New York Avenue at 10 p.m. on January 10. The victim, who knows Wilson, told police that he was passing the corner when the suspect and two others allegedly cut off his 1995 Lexus with their car. Police allege that’s when one of the men jumped out of the car pulled a gun and ordered the victim out of his vehicle. The suspect opened the door, but the victim shut the door and began to back away, police said. Two gunshots rang out, one of them striking the victim in the arm. As of this writing, cops were still looking for the other two suspects. *** KENSINGTON MAN NAMED BAKER BURGLAR: With their tension and frustration levels rising higher with each passing week, it appears that cops may have stopped their “baker burglar.” Michael Guerriero, 28, of the 150 block of Ocean Parkway was taken into custody last week for allegedly breaking into the Bread Basket Bakery at 703 Kings Highway the morning of January 13. As this paper went to press, it was unclear if Guerriero was responsible for an earlier break-in that took place sometime after midnight on January 4. In that case, someone attacked the bakery from the rear, entering through a damaged metal gate that covered the rear door. The suspect took $200 in receipts and fled, officials said. Since the damaged back gate wasn’t repaired, cops suspected that the thief would return. They were proven right as they kept an eye on the location early Friday morning, officials said. *** MAN KILLED ON UTICA: A 24-year-old Queens resident was shot to death on Utica Avenue early Sunday morning, police from the 63rd Precinct said. Officials said that the victim, identified as Gavin Morris of 228th Street, was arguing with another man at 3:45 a.m. on January 8 when the suspect pulled a gun and shot him in the chest. Morris was rushed to Kings County Hospital where he died of his injuries a short time later. Cops are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to come forward. Tipsters could receive up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those responsible. Calls can be made to either the 63rd Precinct at (718) 258-4411 or the NYPD CrimeStoppers hotline at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential. *** COPS: HELP CLEAN UP GRAFFITI WHILE EARNING SOME GREEN: As the ongoing war against graffiti vandals continues, cops are now offering up to $500 in reward money to anyone who can offer them information that can lead them to anyone who commits graffiti vandalism. The hefty reward is part of the city’s new push to rid New York of graffiti vandals. Graffiti is one of the leading quality of life complaints brought to police. Officials said that cleaning up graffiti is essential to the plan, to show that the community is no longer going to tolerate marred and tagged-up walls and street corners. According to police there is a perception that if a community will tolerate graffiti, they will tolerate other criminal activities, such as drug dealing and prostitution. Anyone with information about graffiti vandalism is urged to contact either 311 or 911. *** 70-YEAR-OLD MUGGED ON WAY TO SALON: A 70-year-old Sheepshead Bay woman was robbed of $30 and her Metrocard after being shoved to the ground and robbed of her purse on East 1st Street near Avenue Y. The victim told police that she was walking down East 1st Street, on her way to a nearby nail salon at 3:55 p.m. on January 14 an unidentified thug grabbed her from behind. The suspect reached for the bag, but the senior resisted, officials said. After a brief struggle, the suspect threw the woman her to the floor, scooped up the bag and ran off. The woman, police said, was not seriously harmed. Cops are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to call the 61st Precinct at (718) 627-6611. All calls will be kept confidential.
