PETIT LARCENY: Faux tenant targets house hunter | Independent online apartment hunting can help you avoid paying a broker’s fee — but it can also leave you wide open for anonymous Internet scammers, as a 20-year-old W. 31st St. resident found out the hard way. On Thurs., Feb. 25, she went on the website apartments.com and made contact with a woman — named either Christina Lucas or Christina Thomas, according to the victim, whose reason for the confusion was not made clear in the report she filed at Chelsea’s 10th Precinct. “Christina” informed the victim that she needed $950 as a down payment before she could view the apartment — and the victim eagerly complied, via PayPal. Frustrated after being stood up twice for appointments to see the property, she contacted building management, and was told that nobody by the name of Christina Lucas (or Thomas) was leasing out an apartment (nor had anyone with any combination of that name ever lived in the building).
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF: Boozy dude hit the door on the way in | Most people prefer to get their foot in the door, figuratively — but on Fri., Feb. 26, a tipsy troublemaker took the expression to literal (and costly) extremes. At about 3 a.m., a witness reported that a man, who appeared to be drunk, intentionally kicked the front door of a building on the W. 300 block of 16th St. Upon causing about $750 in damage to the unfortunate entryway, the man fled eastbound on W. 16th St.
RESISTING ARREST: Looking out for No. 1 lands man in No. 2 | One man’s attempt to turn the W. 14th St. subway station into a makeshift outhouse wound up costing him a trip to the big house. At about 3:15 a.m. on Sat., Feb. 27, an officer observed the man trying to find discreet relief on the southbound platform catwalk — an area enclosed to exclude intruders — where he urinated on the train tracks. When confronted by the officer, the peevish perp ran away, in an attempt to avoid going with the flow. He was pursued, captured, and ultimately restrained — though the bind did not stop him from lying on his hands to avoid being cuffed. This method of defense was unsuccessful, however, and the 25-year-old was arrested.
PETIT LARCENY: Lather, rinse, arrest | Sat., Feb 27 must have been an exceptionally bad hair day — and then some — for one soapy shoplifter. An employee of the wronged Rite Aid (300 W. 20th St., at Eighth Ave.) in question saw the man hide 22 bottles of Pantene and Head & Shoulders shampoo (valued at $74) in a bag at about 4:30 p.m., and then proceed to leave the store without paying. The 30-year-old man was promptly arrested for his hair care crime.
CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY: Jeweler jails Jerseyan | When stealing from an establishment, savvy criminals know enough to make a swift getaway, as opposed to lollygagging at the scene of the crime — but apparently no one alerted one would-be-thief at the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market (in front of 408 W. 39th St., btw. Ninth & 10th Aves.) about this final, crucial step. At 11:10 a.m. on Sun., Feb. 28, a 46-year-old New Jersey man was observed by Flea Market security to be in possession of property stolen from the booth of a jeweler who had set up shop at the Market. Security alerted the booth’s operator, who was able to identify the property — leading to the out-of-towner’s arrest.
—SEAN EGAN
THE 10th PRECINCT: Located at 230 W. 20th St. (btw. Seventh & Eighth Aves.). Commander: Deputy Inspector Michele Irizarry. Main number: 212-741-8211. Community Affairs: 212-741-8226. Crime Prevention: 212-741-8226. Domestic Violence: 212-741-8216. Youth Officer: 212-741-8211. Auxiliary Coordinator: 212-924-3377. Detective Squad: 212-741-8245. The Community Council meets on the last Wed. of the month, 7 p.m., at the 10th Precinct or other locations to be announced. The next meeting is Mar. 30.
THE 13th PRECINCT: Located at 230 E. 21st St. (btw. Second & Third Aves.). Deputy Inspector: David Ehrenberg. Call 212-477-7411. Community Affairs: 212-477-7427. Crime Prevention: 212-477-7427. Domestic Violence: 212-477-3863. Youth Officer: 212-477-7411. Auxiliary Coordinator: 212-477-4380. Detective Squad: 212-477-7444. The Community Council meets on the third Tues. of the month, 6:30 p.m., at the 13th Precinct. The next meeting is Mar. 15.
CASH FOR GUNS | $100 cash will be given (no questions asked) for each handgun, assault weapon or sawed-off shotgun, up to a maximum payment of $300. Guns are accepted at any Police Precinct, PSA or Transit District.
