Grand Larceny: Out of the Port, into the fire
They should have just waited in line for a cab. Two female tourists, both 19, got off got off the bus at Port Authority, at around 1:15 a.m. on Sun., Aug. 24 — then decided to walk to their hotel. They soon attracted the attention of a man who began to engage the duo in conversation, stating that he was going to escort them safely to their hotel. By the time they reached W. 33rd St. & 11th Ave., one of the women told him she no longer felt comfortable following his lead. The man then stated that he needed money. Both women refused, at which point the perp removed a bag from the first victim’s shoulder and began to run away. He was last seen heading into a nearby construction site — but not before he removed $425 in cash and a passport from the bag, which ended up being thrown into the street. Also kicked to the curb: the perp’s phone and glasses, which were dropped by accident in his haste to flee the scene.
Lost Property: Green customer singing the blues
A French patron of Gallow Green, a rooftop garden bar at 542 W. 27th St. (btw. 10th & 11th Aves.), has much to learn about American customs. On Sun., Aug. 24, the 26-year-old woman arrived at Chelsea’s 10th Precinct to report an incident that happened eight days earlier. Along with a group of friends, she arrived at Gallow Green around 11 p.m. At one point, she went to the restroom, placing her bag on the floor (and forgetting to take it with her). When she returned a short time later, the bag was gone. The victim told the police she did not report this incident right away, because she’d only been in America for a short time and assumed that the bag would be returned (the too-trusting victim did, at least, have enough wits about her to notify the bar manager). The small red bag contained nothing of cash value, but its contents did include several forms of ID.
Leaving the Scene/Property Damage: Swiped by Bus
A 43-year-old woman told police that, while at the southeast corner of 10th Ave. & W. 39th St. at around 2:45 p.m. on Sat., Aug. 16, her vehicle was in an accident with a Coach bus — which did not stop to exchange information or verify that she was safe (the victim did not sustain any injury). As the bus made its way down W. 39th towards 11th Ave., the quick-thinking victim was able to write down the bus number, which she provided to responding NYPD officers.
—Scott Stiffler
