Wednesday Crime Blotter: A Foiled Purse-Snatching in Williamsburg, A Rock Throwing Assault & More

WILLIAMSBURG – Police are looking for a man who attempted to snatch a woman’s purse in the area of North 4th and Berry Streets earlier this week.

The incident occurred on Monday, January 29th, around 9:20 am, said police. The would-be robber approached a 40-year old woman from behind and attempted to rip away her purse, but she managed to hold on, and the two struggled for possession. Luckily, two bystanders heard the woman calling for help and came to her assistance, causing the suspect to flee, said police.

Police described the suspect as a black man, about 18 to 20 years old and 5’10”. He was last seen wearing a green parka with a fur-lined hood over a black hoodie, with black pants, purple and yellow sneakers and a black and white backpack. The suspect can be seen on surveillance video below:

BUSHWICK – Last weekend, a woman was robbed in the early hours of Sunday morning when a man in a Bushwick bodega forced her to remove cash from an ATM before stealing it from her.

The incident took place at USA Gourmet Deli, 427 Central Avenue at Madison Street, around 2:00 am on Sunday, January 28, said police. The suspect approached his 24-year old victim and demanded she remove cash from an ATM inside the store. She complied, taking out $30, which the suspect grabbed from her before fleeing, surveillance video shows.

Police described the suspect as a black man in his early 20s, last seen wearing all dark clothing and red sneakers. Surveillance photos of the suspect can be seen below:

CONEY ISLAND – A man was robbed and nearly shot last week by two individuals who sprung a trap on him at the Coney Island Houses on Thursday, January 25.

The 25-year old victim was led to 3025 West 32nd Street by one of the suspects just after 2:00 pm, said police. When the two men entered the building, a third man approached them, holding a handgun and demanding the victim’s property. At first, the victim refused, attempting to grab the handgun away from his assailant, but when the gun went off during the struggle, the victim relented, said police.

The gunman took $500, a credit card and a cell phone from the victim, said police, before the two men fled in an unknown direction. Surveillance photos of the suspects can be seen below:

EAST NEW YORK – A man is wanted for assault after throwing a rock that hit another man in an incident that took place just a stone’s throw from Queens in East New York.

On Saturday, January 17, a 25-year old man was walking in the area around Euclid and Pitkin Avenues when an unidentified man picked up a rock and hurled it at the victim, said police. The rock struck its target in the head, causing a laceration. The suspect fled on foot, while the victim was transported to Brookdale Hospital in stable condition to be treated for his injuries.

Police described the unknown rock-throwing suspect as a black man around 35-years old, 6’2″ and about 220 lbs. He was last seen wearing a white jacket over black pants and a white du-rag, and can be seen in a surveillance photo 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.