Crime Watch
Bimmer SkimmersSaks Fifth Avenue may attract a better class of shoplifter, judging from one pernicious pair’s means of getaway. At 7:37 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19, two perpetrators entered the Saks store at 225 Liberty St. The first perpetrator was observed on surveillance cameras removing four bags from a display shelf and concealing them in his jacket while the second perpetrator distracted a sales associate. The pair then exited the store and were observed fleeing the scene in a silver BMW. The shoplifters got away with four Yves St. Laurent bags with a total value of $6,200.
Nicked NicotineAnother shoplifter appeared to be trying to kick a habit other than shoplifting. At midnight on Monday, Jan. 16, a man entered the Duane Reade store at 100 Broadway and removed more than $4,000 worth of smoking cessation medications, putting them into a black bag and then leaving the store. Police searched the area for the shoplifter but couldn’t find him. The items stolen included Nicorette gum, lozenges and patches totaling $4,040.
Out of AmoAt 5:40 p.m. on Jan. 21, a woman went into a fitting room in the Anthom store at 25 Mercer St. with two items of merchandise. She put both items on under her clothes and then left the store without paying. Police couldn’t find her in the neighborhood. The items stolen included a Veda leather jacket valued at $990, and Amo jeans priced at $268, making the total stolen of $1,258.
Singapore StingPolice remind citizens and visitors to check your property anytime someone bumps into you. At 5 p.m. on Jan. 16, a man visiting from Singapore was walking southbound on the Northwest corner of Warren Street and Broadway when he was bumped from behind. The victim didn’t realize that he’d been pickpocketed until he got a block farther south. He tried using the Find My iPhone app, but his phone had been turned off. The items stolen included a silver 128 GB iPhone 6s valued at $1,048, and $500 in cash, making a total bump-and-grab of $1,548.
Northern InhospitalityAt midnight on Jan. 22, a 27-year-old woman from Richmond, Virginia, checked into the Sheraton Tribeca New York Hotel on Canal Street and used the hotel’s parking service. At 8:30 in the morning she returned to her vehicle, which was parked at 6-10 Wooster Street, and found that her wallet and its contents — which she had left in the car’s glove compartment — were missing. The items stolen included a Burberry wallet valued at $650, $2,000 in cash, credit and debit cards, and a California ID. In all, the woman was out $2,650.