Crime Watch

From the Hammer to the SlammerOne shoplifter apparently modeled himself after Thor. At 10:15 a.m. on Thursday, May 5, a police officer saw a 42-year-old man taking sunglasses from a shelf in the Sunglass Hut at 183 Broadway. Donnell Wigfall was arrested on and charged with grand larceny. He had stolen seven pairs of sunglasses valued at $1,301, all of which were recovered. At the time of his arrest, he was found carrying a hammer, which he claimed he carried “to help with people who try to intimidate me uptown, just in case.”

Vending AngerCould this have been an inside job outside? At 11:40 a.m. on May 5, a 28-year-old man working for ASA Vending of the Bronx parked a company vehicle, a white 2014 Ford van, on the northeast corner of Murray and Church Streets to get lunch. Before leaving the van, he put a sweater over nine leather moneybags containing $650 from the pickups he had made from various vending machines around the area. When he returned to the van one hour later, the van’s side door lock had been popped open and damaged. He then opened the passenger’s-side door and discovered that the leather bags containing the cash were missing. A search of the area proved fruitless.

Watch OutYet another fitness enthusiast learned the hard way why you should never leave valuables in a gym locker. At 2:15 p.m. on May 5, a 54-year-old man left his gym bag inside a locker at the New York Health and Racquet Club located at 39 Whitehall Street. When he returned 45 minutes later, his gym bag was missing. A witness told police he had seen someone standing in front of the victim’s locker. The witness then saw the same man standing in front of a locker across the room with no lock on it. That is where the victim’s bag was recovered, along with all property except a Bell & Ross BR-126 black sports watch valued at $4,800.

Staten Island WarySometime around 9 p.m. on Friday, May 6, a 28-year-old man parked his bicycle in front of 4 South St. at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, securing the vehicle with a chain. When the man returned on Sunday at 8 p.m., his bike was gone. He checked with the lost and found at the terminal, where the employee on duty said that the bike had been reported stolen at approximately 8 p.m. the day before. The victim said he did not know the model of the bike but described it as gray and valued at $1,200. Only the chain was recovered, which the thief had left at the scene of the crime.

Duane Drain ContinuesDuane Reade stores continue to be one-stop shoplifting spots for thieves. At 7:20 p.m. on May 6, two men entered the Reade location at 200 Water St. and took off with merchandise valued at $2,018. Police are still looking into the matter.