Crime Watch

Compiled by Amanda Woods Street Fight A Friday morning dispute between two men-a driver and a pedestrian-quickly escalated into violence, until both men were arrested. A 38-year-old man told police that a 48-year-old man's car nearly hit him as he was crossing the street. As retaliation, the pedestrian began punching the driver's car. This offense prompted the driver to jump out of his car and spit in the pedestrian's face, police said. In a second moment of revenge, the other man hurled a punch at the driver's face. The driver said he suffered a scrape on his face, and the pedestrian reported blood coming out of his nose. Funny Money Tries at Bloomie's Counterfeit cash almost made the rounds at Bloomingdale's last week, police said. In the first incident, which took place at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, two young women and one young man, all in their late teens, attempted to pay for dresses, shirts, jeans and a bathing suit with fake bills. The cashier notified store security officers, who found a bag containing marijuana in the teens' possession. All three were arrested. In the second incident, which took place on Thursday just after 8 p.m., security spotted a 25-year-old man buying merchandise with counterfeit $100 bills. He attempted to leave the store with jackets, jeans, shorts and two T-shirts totaling $933 when security stopped him and he was arrested on the scene. Skin Care Swipes A 34-year-old woman and a 50-year-old man must have been serious about skin care, because they snatched a Rosaliac anti-redness moisturizer and a L'Oreal double-lifting cream from the Duane Reade on Third Avenue between East 73rd and 74th streets just after 4 p.m. on Thursday. One employee noticed the woman snatch the items from the shelf and place them inside a towel, and she informed her co-worker of the crime. The two employees ran outside to try to stop the woman and reclaim the products. In an attempt to hold on to the stolen creams, one of the culprits sprayed an unknown substance at the employees. The man fled the scene, but the woman was arrested, and both skin care products, totaling $55, were recovered. One of the employees was taken to the hospital. Woman Mugged A 28-year-old woman was walking home along East 82nd Street near Third Avenue at 3:15 a.m. on Wednesday when a man asked her what appeared to be an innocent question: "What time is it?" After the woman responded, the man grabbed her purse and dragged her from the sidewalk into the street. When the strap broke on the woman's purse, the man started running eastbound. Hoping to retrieve her bag, the woman ran after him, prompting the man to toss the woman's wallet on the ground. The bag, still in the man's possession, contained three debit cards, $80 in cash and a New York State driver's license.