Thief Steals Purse And Baby Cooler While Mother Changes Her Baby’s Diaper

A crisp Sunday morning on one of the more bucolic blocks in the neighborhood became the background for a mean-spirited thieving that took place mere feet from a woman who was changing her daughter’s diaper.

On Sunday, November 15, Simina and Stephen Kroculick had parked their car in front of 911 Union Street (near 8th Avenue). They had driven over from their home in Roosevelt Island to take some family photos in Prospect Park that morning. Stephen Kroculick headed into the park with their 27-month-old son, and Simina stayed back in the car while their 7-month-old daughter slept in her car seat.

When her daughter woke up, Simina readied the stroller and began packing it with various items — including toys, a small cooler with breast milk, and her purse. Her daughter began to cry as she took her out of the car seat.

“I then put my daughter on the seat of the car and began to change her diaper,” she said. During the amount of time it took for her to change the diaper, someone stole her purse and baby cooler with breast milk out of the stroller.

“I first called my husband — I thought, maybe he took some things and I didn’t realize it,” she said. “I was looking away for the amount of time it takes to change a diaper. I thought, someone could not have done this. How could this have happened in this small window of time? Were they watching?”

The event took place at approximately 10:30am on Sunday, November 15. While no injuries occurred, Simina was understandably shaken up because of the proximity of her daughter.

Simina told us that two police cars arrived. “One car left quickly to canvas the neighborhood. The officers in the other car took inventory,” she said. A police report has been filed for the incident.

The Kroculick’s greatest concern is that Simina’s car keys were taken, which had been in her purse. They are hoping someone will come up with the keys and other personal items in the vicinity of the incident.

Simina describes her purse as a navy blue Le Sport Sac messenger bag. The cube cooler has white and purple seersucker.

Should you locate any missing items, you can contact the 78th Precinct at 718-636-6411 or editor@bklyner.com.