Crime Watch

BY MARIA ROCHA-BUSCHEL

Man busted for propositioning copPolice arrested a 33-year-old man for criminal possession of a controlled substance in front of 355 West 16th St. Thursday, March 9 at 11 a.m. after he propositioned an undercover officer. Police said that the man offered $100 along with a controlled substance in exchange for sexual intercourse. He reportedly told officers, “I wasn’t selling drugs, I just wanted sex.”

Cart, belongings stolenA 67-year-old homeless woman reported that a shopping cart with her property in it was stolen when she left it in front of 282 Eighth Ave. on Thursday, March 9. She told police that she went into the nearby Rite Aid at 9:30 a.m. and when she left at 10:30, the cart, which contained her suitcase, clothing, shoes and other items, was no longer outside the store.

Cab driver stiffed, punched A cab driver reported that he was attacked by a man who refused to pay a $6.50 fare Friday, March 11 at 10:43 p.m. at the southwest corner of Ninth Avenue and West 30th Street. The driver told police the passenger got out of the cab without paying and when the driver approached him asking for payment, the suspect punched him several times in the face, and also kicked him. He told police the assailant then fled.

Shrubs stolenAn employee at Hudson River Park reported that an unknown person stole stealing shrubbery from the park at the northeast corner of West 27th Street and the West Side Highway during the last week. He told police that someone took multiple inkberry shrubs, valued at $750, from the habitat garden between Friday, March 3 and Wednesday, March 8. He told police this has been a recurring problem since May 2016.

shoplifting arrestPolice arrested a 40-year-old man inside the Rite Aid at 282 Eighth Ave. Friday, March 10 at 1:30 p.m. after he was caught with heartburn medication in his bag as he tried to leave the store without paying for the merchandise. Police said that an employee saw the suspect putting 18 boxes of antacids into his bag, as well as a curling iron, two bottles of Advil and body spray. An employee told police that the merchandise was valued at $569.

Car broken into on West 28thA 34-year-old man reported that his car was broken into while it was parked on West 28th Street between Ninth and 10th Avenues Friday, March 10. He told police that he parked the car on the street just after midnight on Friday and when he returned at 8 a.m. the same day, he discovered that someone had broken the rear passenger window and removed his gym bag.