Police Blotter: Kindles, Cargo Shorts & Copper Pipes

Theft has seen the highest increase of any offenses on the latest CompStat report from the 70th, and our second July blotter features stolen shorts, swimsuits, pipes, and–surprise, surprise–electronics. Take a closer look at the incidents behind the numbers, based on reports gathered from the precinct.

Crimes of passion fashion

Feel like you didn’t have any clothes light enough for that heatwave a few weeks back? So did three recent “shoppers” at the Old Navy on Flatbush between Tilden and Albemarle.

Police say the first perp involved in the multiple shopliftings was an 18-year-old man caught on video stuffing swim trunks into his bag on the afternoon of July 17. The trunks were recovered and the man arrested for petit larceny.

Then the very next day, cops say two men entered the same store, stuffing cargo shorts into a laundry bag before exiting (presumably so they could stick future freebies inside all those handy pockets). No arrests have yet been made.

Kindle swindler

A sticky fingers possibly trying to catch up on his or her summer reading stole a neighbor’s tablet in the check out line at Stop & Shop on Flatbush and Tilden Avenues, according to police. No arrests have been made in the July 21 incident, but officers are reviewing video footage from the store. We have a distinct feeling this guy was involved.

Shattered pipe dreams

Cops say they found an unholy man attempting to steal copper pipes from Salem Baptist Church around 4am on July 23. After a brief chase on foot, the 42-year-old, who was observed trying to slide pipes out under the church fence, told police, “I went to see why my friend was running.”

Upon arrest, police report they found pliers in the perp’s pocket consistent with damage done to air conditioning units at the church to obtain the pipes. All we can say is, repent!

On the fence… literally

A 23-year-old man was arrested the evening of July 24 after backing his car into a fence on Tennis Court, causing over $400 worth of damage, according to police. Realizing how badly he’d mangled the fence, police say the aspiring Indy 500 champ tried to flee the scene before being nabbed for criminal mischief.

CompStat report via nyc.gov