By Thomas Tracy
MACED AND ROBBED: A 56-year-old man was sprayed in the face with a noxious material and robbed of his wallet last week. The victim said that he was on his way home, walking down the 400 block of Van Brunt Street at 10 p.m. on December 29, when the two unidentified hooligans stopped him. The two suspects, who were wearing black, puffy jackets, spritzed the victim and kicked him, knocking him to the ground. When the suspects ran off, he realized that his wallet, along with his driver’s license, credit cards and bank cards were missing, officials said. Cops are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to call the 76th Precinct at (718) 834-3211. All calls will be kept confidential. *** ROBBED IN ELEVATOR: A 26-year-old woman was robbed at knifepoint last week just moments after she stepped into an elevator in a Columbia Street building, officials said. Police from the 76th Precinct said that they are currently looking for the thief, who was only described as a black male wearing a beige ski coat. The victim said that she entered the building, located between Lorraine and West 9th streets at 10 a.m. on December 29 and had just gotten onto the lift when the suspect stopped her. The thug showed the woman a knife and ran off with her bag, which contained about $50. Police are investigating. *** CASH TAKEN FROM LOCAL BUSINESS: A Degraw Street businessman told police that someone bashed their way into his office, taking $150. The 30-year-old entrepreneur said that the thieves damaged a front window as they plowed through the office, located on the 250 block of Degraw Street. The break-in took place after 11:30 p.m. on December 27 and 5:45 a.m. the following morning. Police are investigating. *** U-HAUL TRUCK VANISHES: Workers at the U-Haul depot on 4th Avenue are wondering how one of their trucks could have been taken out without a rental agreement. Workers said that someone entered the lot, located at the 390 block of 4th Avenue, sometime between 3:50 p.m. on December 29 and 9 a.m. on December 30. Officials told police that the 1996 white Ford U-Haul truck was signed back into the lot, but the keys were apparently left in ignition – not a common practice. The truck was discovered missing during an inventory on December 30, officials said. Police are investigating. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call the NYPD CrimeStoppers hotline at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential. *** THIEVES RAID GROCERY: Workers at the H&K Grocery, 291 Van Brunt Street, told police last week that someone attempted to break into their store. Officials said that burglars converged on the grocery store sometime after 10:45 p.m. on December 21 and 5:30 a.m. the next day. Police said that someone cut the padlock to the cellar doors, but for some reason did not go inside. Workers said that the store had been broken into the store on three other occasions in the last year. Police are investigating. *** WHAT A BEAST: A 67-year-old dog owner told police last week that he was attacked by an outraged woman who had some choice words for his four-legged friend. Police said that they are currently looking for the woman, who attacked the senior with her cane after making a rude comment about the man’s dog. Officials said that the victim had just finished walking the dog and had brought it into a building on the 570 block of Warren Street when the woman confronted him. Police said that the victim suffered a slight injury to his arm during the attack. The victim, who apparently knows the woman, is seeking an order of protection. *** 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.
