Crime watch

BY JERRY DANZIG

Bus Rider AssaultedA bus rider was assaulted after boarding a bus at Fifth Avenue and 79th Street about 9:40 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 16, police said. The 35-year-old man was sitting at the stop, when he was approached by two men who asked him for a dollar. The man declined, and the two men asked for his wallet. Fearing for his safety, the man got on the next bus, with the pair following him on board. Then the two attacked the victim, slashing him with an unknown sharp object, cutting his back and head, according to a police account. The man was taken to New York hospital by an EMS team after reporting the incident to police at the 19th Precinct station house.

Takin’ a Dunkin’Apparently, one burglar wasn’t content merely to score two breakfast sandwiches for $5 at a Dunkin’ Donuts. At 3:27 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 14, a 55-year-old man entered the popular donut dispensary at 1482 First Ave. through an unlocked bulkhead cellar door. He then broke the door lock of a room in the basement and removed items. The items stolen included five pounds of coffee valued at $110, two boxes of bacon priced at $37 and an unspecified quantity of dark roast coffee worth $45.

Outreach Scores InmateAt 6:05 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 17, an officer observed a 56-year-old man who he knew had an active bench warrant loitering in the stairwell of the public housing Holmes Towers at 1780 First Ave. Police said the man had no lawful reason to be in that building and had previously been warned to stay out of it. The suspect, Paul Coons, was arrested and charged with criminal trespass, police said. He was also found to be in possession of a crack pipe containing residue. Police at the 19th Precinct said this is the first local arrest made under the department’s new Neighborhood Coordination Officer program, in which police get to know the neighborhoods they serve and protect.

Cannondale TravailAt 12:35 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 16, a 57-year-old man was observed by a plainclothes officer using a bolt cutter to try and cut a bike lock and take a Cannondale bicycle secured to a rack in front of 126 East 86th St. Vincent Royal was arrested and charged with possession of burglar’s tools.

Purse Snatcher GangThieves preyed on a restaurant customer recently. At 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13, a 27-year-old woman put her purse on the table where she was seated inside DTUT at 1744 Second Ave. Three unknown men then entered the location, and one grabbed her purse from the table. All three then fled. The items stolen included an EpiPen valued at $100, the black purse worth $40, a yellow wallet, credit cards, a driver’s license, keys and $20, according to the police account.