Crime Watch

Early Morning Intimidation Two friends were standing on the sidewalk on Third Avenue around 10:30 a.m. last Thursday when they were approached by three men. One of the perps reportedly punched one of the victims in the face with a closed fist, causing a small laceration, while another made threatening moves to the second victim, keeping him from helping his friend. Then one of the trio began searching through the victim's truck, which was parked on the street, and yelling, "Give me everything you have, I know you have money!" The three thugs eventually left, fleeing on foot with no money to show for their intimidation game. High-End Heist An employee at an upscale handbag and leather goods store on East 85th Street reported a theft to police this week. On Monday, two men and one woman came into the store together around 8 p.m. The woman distracted the salesperson while the two men surreptitiously emptied a display shelf, stealing 20 men's wallets from the display. The three then left together in an unknown direction, making off with $2,100 worth of wallets in total. Counterfeiter Nabbed Police arrested a 55-year-old man on the sidewalk outside an East 67th Street retail address last Thursday. The man was found with counterfeit Coach wallets and said he was selling them, and the cops picked him up on trademark counterfeit charges. Newsstand Nightmare Early on Monday morning, an employee at a newsstand on East 79th Street was approached by what he thought was a normal customer. At about 7:10 a.m., the man, described as black, aged 55-60, with medium height and build, asked the newsstand worker for a pack of Newport 100s cigarettes. When the employee handed the pack to him, the man said, "Mother [expletive], I need two packs." Despite the rude request, the employee complied, handing over a second pack, but then the perpetrator started whacking him on the head and hands with a shaving razor before taking off with the packs, worth $26 total, down the street on foot. Luckily, the newsstand employee was not injured, but the crazed smoker got away before police could catch him. Cellphone Snatch A 24-year-old man was standing on the corner of East 62nd Street and Second Avenue on Sunday at 8 p.m., waiting to cross the street. He took out his cellphone to call his mother, but before he could dial, a man on a motorcycle rolled up and grabbed the phone. When the victim looked up in surprise, the perp said "What?" and then drove off with a group of fellow motorcyclers. The phone, a Virgin Mobile model, was worth $100. Bodega Mayhem A flustered store clerk from a Third Avenue bodega called police after a strange and destructive incident in his shop on Sunday. The employee told police that an unknown man walked into the store and purposefully knocked over a display case as well as the cash register, damaging both items. He made no statements and didn't take anything before leaving just as quickly as he came.