Crime Watch

BY MARIA ROCHA-BUSCHEL

Woman bear-hugged by stranger on West 23rdA 22-year-old woman reported that an unknown man harassed her while she was at the northeast corner of West 23rd Street and Eighth Avenue Friday, Sept. 2 at 10:30 a.m. She told police that she was walking on the sidewalk on West 23rd Street when the man bear-hugged her, picked her up and brought her to the corner of the building, while mumbling unknown words to her. The victim said that the man eventually let go and she walked away. She told police that nothing was stolen from her and she wasn’t hurt in the altercation. No arrests have been made.

Impatient cabbie drives off with woman’s suitcaseA woman told police that a livery driver drove off with her suitcase still in his trunk after he dropped her off at the southwest corner of 11th Avenue and West 33rd Street Thursday, Sept. 1 at 5:45 p.m. She told police that the cab picked her up in Bushwick after approaching her on the street. When the driver arrived at West 33rd and 11th Avenue where the victim was trying to make a Megabus, he demanded money immediately. The victim said that she asked him to wait because she wanted to see if her bus to Baltimore had left, but the driver instead drove off with her belongings, which she said valued over $3,000.

Tinder date gone wrongA 38-year-old man reported Friday, Sept. 2 that his laptop was stolen from his apartment on West 18th Street at Eighth Avenue by someone he met on the internet. He told police that he and the suspect met online and had spent the night together, and when the victim was showering the next morning, the suspect stole his Louis Vuitton duffle bag, which contained his MacBook Air, and left the apartment. The victim hasn’t heard from the suspect since, and the suspect has blocked all contact from the victim. The victim told police that the incident occurred on the morning of July 24 but he was only reporting it now because he needed the police report to make an insurance claim. The victim said that the Louis Vuitton bag the laptop was in was worth $4,200 and the computer was valued at $3,500.

Man targeted by driver on West 20th StreetA 38-year-old man reported that he was injured when a car hit him at the northeast corner of West 20th Street and Ninth Avenue Sunday, Sept. 4 at 12:25 a.m. He told police that he was walking across West 20th Street, heading north on Ninth Avenue, when a car that was heading east on West 20th Street swerved intentionally, trying to hit the victim with his car. The driver didn’t stop and left the scene of the accident. Police said that several witnesses saw the vehicle try and swerve to hit the victim. No arrests have been made.

Man’s arm broken in assault on West 28th and SeventhA 58-year-old man reported that he was assault Saturday, Sept. 3 at 2 p.m. at the northeast corner of Seventh Avenue and West 28th Street. He told police that a stranger pushed him downwards, causing him to fall and break his right arm. Police did not have any information about what caused the dispute, and no arrests have been made.

Woman assaulted by three men at West 17th and Eighth Police arrested two men for an assault at the southwest corner of West 17th Street and Eighth Avenue Saturday, Sept. 3 at 2:30 a.m. The victim flagged down a Radio Motor Patrol and told police that she was attacked by three men who punched her in the face, causing swelling and minor bleeding. A 29-year-old and a 34-year-old were arrested in connection with the incident after police searched the area but the third fled the scene and could not be found.