Crime Watch

DIAMOND PENDANT STOLEN FROM APARTMENT A 32-year-old woman reported the theft of a two-carat diamond pendant worth $5,000. She noticed the pendant missing on Jan. 2. The woman last saw the precious jewel on Dec. 21 on her nightstand at her apartment on West 70th Street. No arrests have been made, but the victim said that the only people with access to the apartment are herself and her cleaning lady. YOUTHS' PHONES SWIPED Last Monday, three male middle-school-aged friends were walking down West 83rd Street between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway, when two unknown male youths approached them. One perp told the boys, "If you don't give me your phone, I'll shoot," and patted his jacket, indicating a hidden gun. One youth gave up his phone, while one suspect grabbed another boy's backpack and swiped his phone. The muggers warned the victims, "not a word," and they walked away. In total, one Droid and another cellphone were stolen. TWO SENIORS SWINDLED Last Thursday, a 74-year-old Upper West Side resident reported a disturbing discovery to police. After the woman noticed that someone was withdrawing money from the joint account she shares with her 90-year-old mother, she investigated with Chase bank. She was shocked to find that an unknown person had been taking money from her mother's accounts for the past two years-to the tune of $33,753. The elderly mother had lost her bank card, and her daughter told police neither she nor her mother has any idea who could have gained access to her funds. I BROKE INTO AN APARTMENT AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS LOUSY LOCKBOX A 36-year-old woman returned from vacation last Tuesday to find that her apartment on West 81st Street had been broken into. Her glass patio door was shattered, but all that was stolen was an empty lockbox. The break-in occurred sometime between Dec. 31 and Jan. 8. During this time, the only person with access to the apartment was her pet caretaker, the victim said. No arrests have been made. CON MEN DUPE ELDERLY WOMAN Last Monday, an 81-year-old woman living at Central Park West received a phone call from a man posing as her grandson, who said he was in jail in Mexico City. Another man, claiming to be a sergeant from the American Embassy, told the woman to send $21,000 in bail. The victim wired over the money. Another man on the phone asked for an additional $1,800 dollars, which she sent over, but the transaction did not go through. Afterward, the victim spoke with her real grandson, who apparently was at work in New York at the time of the phone calls. The con men's calls emanated from the 514 (Montreal) area code. CREDIT CARD THIEF MAKES 'YUMMY' PURCHASES A 76-year-old man living at West 72nd Street reported a credit card theft last Tuesday. He had received a phone call from Citibank informing him of unauthorized transactions on his credit card totaling $5,300 made by Yummy Tummy Catering. The victim could not find his credit card, which is usually at home, and canceled the card. The theft occurred sometime between Nov. 26 and Jan. 8.