Crime watch

BY MARIA ROCHA-BUSCHEL

Taxi driver assaultedA taxi driver reported that he was assaulted by two pedestrians at the northwest corner of West 42nd Street and 10th Avenue on Friday, Oct. 19 at 2 a.m. The driver told police that he was heading north on 10th Avenue when he honked his horn at the two pedestrians who were crossing the avenue at West 42nd Street against the signal. Police said that one of the men stood in front of the taxi while the other suspect grabbed the driver from the cab, and both men started to punch him, and throwing him to the ground. He told police the two suspects fled west.

T-shirts takenAn employee at the Lucky Wang store inside 82 Seventh Ave. told police two men stole almost merchandise worth $1,000 from the store on Thursday, October 18 at 4:30 p.m. The worker said that she was helping a customer when the two suspects went into the store and started placing items, including an Obama shirt valued at $234, into a large bag. The employee told police that when she confronted them, they fled the location, taking five T-shirts, all valued at more than $100 each.

Committee to Protect Journalists employee threatenedAn employee of the Committee to Protect Journalists at 330 Seventh Ave. told police that a man threatened her multiple times by phone Friday, Oct. 19 around 10 a.m. The victim told police that the man called the organization’s office numerous times on two different telephone lines, using profanity and threatening to “beat her face in.” Police said that the man also left a message stating that he was going to smash her head in and beat her boss, who is the deputy director, if he ever sees him on the street.

Toilet paper fireCustomers reported a suspicious fire inside the Western Beef at 431 West 16th St. on Friday, October 19 at 5:45 p.m. The customers both told store employees that the toilet paper was on fire in the paper goods aisle. An employee at the store told police that he didn’t see how the fire started and didn’t see anyone start it, but it was classified by police as suspicious. No injuries were reported.

Suitcase stolen at libraryA 76-year-old woman reported that her luggage was stolen while she was inside the Muhlenberg Library at 209 West 23rd St. on Thursday, Oct. 18 between 1 and 5 p.m. The victim told police that she was using a computer at the library when an unknown person took her suitcase.