Friday Crime Blotter: The Return of Chain Snatching Season, A Random Assault & More

FLATBUSH DITMAS PARK – Yesterday, a man was assaulted outside his Flatbush Ditmas Park apartment, seemingly at random.

Police said the attack came around 2:00 pm, while the 73-year old man was standing outside his residence, near Avenue H and Ocean Avenue. When his attacker punched him at random, it knocked the older man to the ground, and he was transported to Maimonides Hospital for injuries to his face and wrist.

Police have found surveillance video of the attacker and are calling on the public to help identify the cowardly man:

BED-STUY – Last night, an NYPD Cadet was arrested in Bed-Stuy. Mark Acevedo, 23, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident and making an illegal signal, according to NYPD.

NEXT – Police are looking for a Sunset Park chain-snatcher after an incident earlier this week in which he targeted an older man.

Around 7:00 pm, in front of a residence on 48th Street, just off 5th Avenue, the suspect grabbed the 73-year old victim’s chain, attempting to rip it off. Police said the victim held on for a moment, then lost his jewelry. The thief ran, fleeing south on 4th Avenue.

Surveillance video of the suspect can be seen below:

GRAVESEND – Last Friday, a man sexually abused a male victim on a late night D train in Gravesend.

Around 3:00 am, near 25th Avenue station, the suspect approached a 51-year old male victim and grabbed his groin, said police. As the suspect fled the scene, he was caught on cellphone video, which can be seen below:

WILLIAMSBURG – Police are looking for the suspect in an assault and robbery that happened in Williamsburg last week.

On Wednesday, May 23, the 24-year old male victim was walking in the area of Graham Avenue and Meeker Avenue, talking on his cellphone, just after 5:00 pm. The suspect snuck up on him from behind, punching him repeatedly in the head and body.

After assaulting the victim, the suspect stole his cellphone and fled to a nearby subway, said police. Surveillance photos of the suspect can be seen below:

BENSONHURST – Finally, police have tracked down and arrest the man who allegedly groped an 11-year old girl in Bensonhurst last week.

Janos Meszakos, 65, was arrested and charged with sex abuse, forcible touching, harassment and acting in a manner injurious to a child under 17, said police.

Anyone with information in regard to any of these incidents is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.