Crime Watch

-Compiled by Adel Manoukian Train Thefts Persist The NYPD reports that the number of thefts on trains and train platforms is increasing, so riders be warned or you might end up like the following unlucky cases. Having just gotten off a southbound N train, a 23-year-old NYU student was walking on a train platform when her phone vibrated. When she reached for her pocketbook to get it, she noticed the zipper was open and several items were missing, including her $100 wallet that contained $100 in cash, a $40 metro card and a credit card. A few days later, a 24-year-old man was holding his $500 iPhone in his hand as he stepped off a southbound N train at around 3 in the morning. As he was getting off, a thief snatched his phone and took off. Good Samaritan Helps Arrest Thieves The saying in this city goes, "If you see something, say something." Luckily this woman was in the right place at the right time and did exactly that. The Good Samaritan witnessed two young males come up to a 21-year-old man on Dutch Street and demand he give up his money and iPhone. When the victim refused, they punched him in the face in concert. As the man was being mugged, the witness called the police and two suspects, ages 19 and 18, were caught and arrested a few blocks away. The man's $200 iPhone was recovered. Water Street Business Robbed at Gunpoint A 58-year-old woman was unlocking the door to her check-cashing business on Water Street last Tuesday, when a man pushed his way into the store, displayed his semiautomatic pistol and announced that he came to rob the place. The man, who donned a ski mask and sunglasses, had the woman disable the alarms and unlock the door to the rear counter area that contained a safe. As soon as she complied, the thief forced her down on the ground and handcuffed her. The perp placed a whopping $150,514 in cash in his black knapsack and allegedly shouted to an accomplice outside the front door. Unfortunately, the victim never had a chance to see the other person. The robber fled in an unknown direction. Police are still investigating. Keep Your Bags in Sight at All Times In these blotter pages, we often report on unattended bags being stolen, yet these crimes still persist. A 30-year-old man was standing on the corner of West Broadway and Lispenard Street early Sunday morning when he placed his bag down to make a call. As he was talking on the phone he noticed a group of people pass him, but the unsuspecting man took no further note of them. When he finished his call a few minutes later, he noticed the bag he had set down next to him containing his $1,700 MacBook and $80 in cash was gone. A few days later, a 21-year-old tourist set her bag down behind her to take a picture with one of her cameras. When she turned around to pick it up a few seconds later, it was out of sight. The bag contained her $1,000 MacBook Air and a $250 Olympus camera. Unfortunately, the woman did not see or hear anything and there were no witnesses. At the time of the occurrence, the visitor only had two more days left in New York City.