Crime Watch UES 04.20.23

Crime Watch by Jerry Danzig

Senior Stung in Nasty New ATM Scam

An 85-year-old woman told police that at 2:37 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28, she was withdrawing money from the Citibank branch at 1275 Madison Ave. near East 91st St. when a woman approached and told her that she had dropped a $20 bill. The senior next noticed that her card was no longer in the ATM machine, and she discovered that $6,000 had been withdrawn from her account without her permission or authority. Apparently, the other woman had done the deed while the senior was distracted looking for the money said to have fallen to the floor.

Police Nab Lottery Ticket Robbery Suspect

According to police, at 11:35 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28, a 24-year-old man aided by two accomplices entered the My Way Convenience Smoke Shop at 1594 Third Ave. between East 89th St. and East 90th St. and took boxes of lottery tickets from the counter without permission or authority. Kevin Peterson was arrested the following day and charged with grand larceny. At the time of his arrest he was found in possession of some of the stolen tickets, and police said he was also on parole for another robbery. In all, he had stolen 1,109 tickets totaling $8,708.

Two Suspects Arrested in Restaurant Burglary

Police reported that two men ages 34 and 49 were seen on security video entering the Thep Thai restaurant at 1439 Second Ave. at East 75th St. while the business was closed at 8:47 a.m. on Friday, March 31. A third individual stood outside the location acting as lookout. The suspects took property from the location before fleeing westbound on East 75th St. toward Lexington Ave. Police stopped the suspects on the northwest corner there, where the 34-year-old was discovered in possession of an imitation pistol, stun gun and folding knife. Then Vincin Warren and Carlos Garcia were arrested and charged with burglary. The items stolen included a tablet, a laptop and cash totaling $5,200, of which $5,061 was recovered.

Witness Alerts Police to Mailbox Fisher

At 1:40 a.m. on Monday, April 10, a 42-year-old male witness reported seeing a 19-year-old man using a leather belt with a metal buckle fishing in a mailbox for ten minutes in front of 1110 Third Ave. near East 65th St. The witness saw the suspect remove mail from the mailbox and run back and forth to a kiosk nearby. Steven Hernandez was soon arrested and charged with grand larceny. He was found in possession of opened mail containing various checks totaling $3,088.77, along with $70 in cash. He was also found with the belt used for the fishing. Police noted that neither the checks nor the cash had been issued or addressed to the suspect.