Crime Watch

BY JERRY DANZIG

Previous and DeviousPolice collared one rotten Apple picker. Shortly after noon on Feb. 27, a 43-year-old man entered the Apple Store at 1981 Broadway and made off with $600 worth of merchandise. He was recognized as a previous trespasser in the store, and police later arrested him on burglary charged. BenchedA dancer learned the hard way about leaving her property unattended. At noon on March 9, an 18-year-old woman placed her bag containing her wallet on a bench in the locker room of the Steps dance studio at 2121 Broadway. When she next looked for her bag, it was gone. Including the bag, cash and credit cards, the total stolen came to $400.

More Hard Knocks at EquinoxExperienced thieves can pick gym lockers in no time at all. At 3:30 p.m. on March 3, a 54-year-old man left his wallet in a locked locker in the Equinox Sports Club at 160 Columbus Avenue. When he returned from his workout, his wallet was missing, along with cash and credit cards totaling $124.

Cosmetic TakeoverPricey cosmetics make tempting targets for shoplifters as well. On Feb. 27, a shoplifter entered the MAC Cosmetics store at 148 Columbus Ave. and made off with 32 bottles of mascara and 35 cosmetic brushes with a total value of $1,667.

Shrink FinkThe NYPD had just the prescription for one drugstore suffering from shrinkage. On Feb. 26, a 46-year-old man entered the CVS store at 200 West End Ave. and made off with $2,237 worth of merchandise, concealing it in his jacket. The long arm of the law caught up with him, however, as he was later arrested and charged with grand larceny.