Crime Watch

Newsstand operator robbedA local newsstand gets in the news after a violent robbery. At 7:53 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, a 23-year-old man was working at the Taslima newsstand at 88 Fulton St. when man in what appeared to be his late teens approached him from behind, displaying a silver firearm. He then struck the newsstand employee on the side of his head, cutting him, while saying, “Lay down, or I’ll shoot you.” The perpetrator then removed about $3,000 in cash from the register drawer along with an undisclosed number of lotto tickets before fleeing west on Fulton Street.

Arlo Low BlowA man was arrested after a verbal dispute with a fellow worker turned violent. At 10:14 a.m. on Thursday, May 18, a 22-year-old man was having an argument with a 38-year-old male coworker inside the Arlo hotel at 231 Harrison St. The older man, later identified as Roberto Bonifacio, then shoved the younger man to the ground and then struck him with a metal squeegee. Bonifacio and charged with assault.

Target TargetA Target store was the target of a violent shoplifter. At 7:25 a.m. on Thursday, May 18, a man came into the Target location at 255 Greenwich St, took merchandize and then tried to leave the store without paying. Store security stopped him as he headed out the door, at which point he punched a guard. Security recovered the stolen item, and the shoplifter threatened to come back with a gun. He then walked out of the store after taking an umbrella.

Fake TakeA scooter driver robbed another motorist while impersonating a police officer. At noon on Friday, May 19, a 45-year-old man was driving in front of 333 Pearl St. when a man on an electric scooter yelled at him, saying, “You almost hit me!” The scooter driver then told the motorist to pull over, claiming he was a police officer and asking the motorist to hand over his ID. The motorist gave the scooter driver his ID, and then the scooter driver said, “I can give you a big ticket, or you can be arrested.” The scooter driver then told the motorist to give him money. The motorist gave the scooter driver $200 and later told police that the scooter driver was wearing a white T-shirt and did not display a shield. Traffic agents who work in the area later said that the perpetrator is a man known to live at 333 Pearl St. with his girlfriend, and police are now looking for him.

Lunch PunchA young woman took an expensive hit after someone stole her wallet at lunch. At 2:30 p.m. on Friday, May 19, a 31-year-old woman was dining at the Westville restaurant located at 333 Hudson St. when she realized that someone had removed her wallet from her purse. Unauthorized charges in the amounts of $2,400, $399, $335, and $399 later turned up on her credit and debit cards. She subsequently had the accounts frozen. Also stolen was a red Ferragamo wallet valued at $500, plus $15 in cash.