Wednesday Crime Blotter: Molotov Cocktails, Attempted Kidnappings & More
EAST NEW YORK – A Molotov cocktail thrown at an SUV in East New York Monday night failed to break open and burst into flames, but instead rolled under a nearby sedan and ignited, said police. Now, they’re looking for the suspects who threw the incendiary device and fled in a black truck.
The incident occurred in front of 390 Hinsdale Street, at Dumont Avenue, around 8:20 pm on Monday, May 14, said police. The would-be arsonists managed to damage the windshield of the target SUV, and the Molotov cocktail burned the underside of a nearby sedan when it spilled and ignited after rolling underneath. Luckily, both vehicles were unoccupied, and the FDNY responded to extinguished the blaze.
Two men in dark-colored hoodies fled the scene in a black Mercedes-Benz SUV, said police, which can be seen on surveillance video below:
SHEEPSHEAD BAY – Police are looking for a burglar who broke into an empty second-floor office on Kings Highway through an adjacent building in the middle of the day.
The suspect found his way into Angel Care Inc, located at 485 Kings Highway, near East 9th Street, around 2:00 pm on Sunday, May 13, said police. Once inside, he stole an HP laptop and two laptop chargers.
The suspect was caught on surveillance video, which can be seen below:
WILLIAMSBURG – On Thursday, May 10, a burglar forced his way into a Williamsburg building to steal a bicycle, but was pretty clearly caught on surveillance video.
The incident occurred around 4:45 am, at 143 South 8th Street, off Driggs Avenue. Police said the suspect forced the front door to the building open and stole a bicycle worth $280.
Video of the incident captured by surveillance cameras can be seen below:
SUNSET PARK/BOROUGH PARK – Police are looking for a suspect wanted in connection with two incidents of attempted child abduction that took place last week in Brooklyn as kids were getting out of school.
On Monday, May 7, around 3:00 pm, the suspect approached a 10-year old boy at the corner of Forth Hamilton Parkway and 58th Street, as the boy was walking home from school, said police. The suspect grabbed the child from behind and asked him if he wanted some ice cream. The boy refused, attempting to flee, but the suspect held him by his backpack, said police. At that point, the boy attempted to bite the suspect, who released him, and the 10-year old fled to safety, with no injuries.
Then, on Wednesday, May 9, again around 3:00 pm, in front of 5302 7th Avenue, the same suspect grabbed another 10-year old boy, holding the child by the arm and preventing him from leaving the corner. The child kicked at the suspect, who released him without causing harm, said police.
A surveillance photo taken in the vicinity of the second location can be seen below:
Finally, police have offered $10,000 in rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction those responsible for the murders that occurred over the weekend in Williamsburg’s Bushwick Houses:
- Crimestoppers: $2500 for arrest and indictment
- Chief of Detectives: $7500 for arrest and conviction
Chief Maddrey of NYPD Patrol Borough Brooklyn North visited the Bushwick Houses to reassure residents that police were taking their safety seriously in the wake of the murders and that extra officers would be stationed at the houses.
He also encouraged members of the community to partner with the police in providing any information they could to lead to the resolution of the case. A video posted to Facebook by the NYPD can be seen below:
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.