Crime Report: Robberies at Gunpoint and Smartphone Thefts

Two thieves in ski masks held a man at gunpoint and took his wallet at Saint Edwards Street and Willoughby Avenue as he was returning home from work at 3:40 a.m. on Feb. 1. He told police the wallet contained his Social Security card, New York State ID and his debit card. Police searched but could not find the thieves.

A 22-year-old man was held up at gunpoint by two men at Auburn Place and North Portland Avenue on Feb. 2 at 1 a.m. He told police that he had been walking home when one man grabbed him from behind and the other pointed a gun at him. The gunman said, “Give me everything” and went through his pockets. They took his iPhone and cash. Police could not say how much. Police attempted to track the phone but it was off-line. Police could not say if there was a link between the two muggings.

Including the above crimes, locals reported 12 felonies and police made three arrests between Jan. 27 and Feb.

Street Robberies

-A 27-year-old man was punched in the face and robbed while walking home at South Oxford Street and DeKalb Avenue on Jan. 29 at 9:20 p.m. He told police that a man had come from behind and grabbed his suitcase. The thief then punched him in the face and shouted, “I’ll shoot you!” then unsuccessfully tried to grab his wallet and his cellphone from his front jacket pocket. Police searched but could not find the thief. Emergency Medical Technicians treated the man on scene.

-A 12-year-old boy was robbed of his cellphone while walking back to school at 12:14 p.m. at Greene Avenue and Cumberland Street on Jan. 29. He told police that a man came up to him and demanded that he give him his phone. Police were unable to track the phone.

-Five men punched and robbed a 48-year-old man $30 at 5:50 p.m. on Feb. 1 on Ashland Place and Myrtle Avenue. Police said that the man was intoxicated and refused to press charges.

-Police arrested Todd Kennedy, 28, for allegedly trying to rob a man on Feb. 1 at 9 p.m. at Lafayette Avenue and Grand Avenue. The man told police that Kennedy had come up to him, grabbed his arm, and demanded money. Police said the victim was unharmed and nothing was taken. The Kings County District Attorney’s office could not provide information on the charges.

Disturbance at City Job Center

Police arrested Jackie Minton, 34, at the New York City job center at 495 Clermont Avenue on Jan. 28. She started cursing during an interview with a worker and a police officer there asked her to leave. Minton allegedly grabbed the police officer by the collar and started fighting her. P0lice said it took two more police officers and a security officer to restrain her. Minton and the first officer were taken to separate hospitals to be treated for scratches sustained during the fight. Minton is charged with assault in second and third degrees, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, obstructing government administration in the second degree, resisting arrest, attempted assault in the third degree, disorderly conduct and harassment in the second degree, according to the Kings County District Attorney’s office.

Assault Arrest

Police arrested Rushelle Exeter, 27, for allegedly slashing a 27-year-old man in the face with a knife outside Mo’s Bar at 80 Lafayette Avenue at 4 a.m. on Feb. 1. The man told police they were arguing while leaving the bar when she cut him in the face. A witness showed the police where the knife had been tossed under a nearby car. The man was taken to Kings County Hospital for stiches. Exeter is charged with assault in the third degree, attempted assault in the third degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, menacing in the third degree and harassment in the second degree, according to the Kings County District Attorney’s office.

Theft from Store

The owner of Choice Greene at 214 Greene Avenue told police on Jan. 28 that someone had stolen $1,877 in cash from his store the previous night. Video surveillance showed someone using a key to open the door and taking money out of two safes. He told the police that five employees had recently been laid off, one of whom did not return the key.

Purse Theft

A 29-year-old woman told police that her purse had been stolen when she left it unattended at a New York City Social Services office at 505 Clermont Avenue on Jan. 27 at 2:15 p.m. She told police that her purse contained her wallet with her New York State identification, her Social Security card, Emblem health insurance card, a Bank of America debit card and $400 in cash.

Theft at Hospital

A 38-year-old Brooklyn Hospital Center worker told police on Jan. 27 that a patient stole her wallet, with a MCU bank card, a New Jersey driver’s license, a Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance card, her Social Security card and her work identification. She had left the wallet briefly on a counter and came back to find it missing.

Theft from Homes

-A 27-year-old woman told police that someone had stolen a package containing four dresses worth $1,200 left by UPS in front of her apartment door on Cumberland Street and Lafayette Avenue on Jan. 22. She was not home when UPS delivered the package.

-A 48-year-old woman told police on Jan. 31 that her wallet had been stolen from her Ingersoll Houses apartment. She said that a New York City Housing Authority worker had been fixing the radiators in her apartment three days prior. She left her beige wallet, with a Visa debit card, a RushCard, United HealthFirst insurance card, Medicaid card and New York State identification card, on a sofa. When the worker left, the wallet was missing, she told cops. She cancelled her cards and no transactions had been made.

Bank Fraud

An 81-year-old man reported to police that he had been defrauded of $3,239.54. He had been contacted by an agency that told him that he needed to wire $340.54 and $2,899 to two out-of-state banks for tax escrow and collateral for the sale of a timeshare. Police interviewed him and confirmed the agency was not legitimate.

Car Theft

A 32-year-old man told police that he had parked his 2000 Ford Econoline van at Willoughby Avenue and Waverly Avenue on Jan. 30 at 10 p.m. and it was missing when he returned the next day.