Police Beat - December 4, 2014

Police Beat - December 4, 2014

A. Home invasion 

A 58-year-old man entered an elevator with two men he did not know, at 3340 Bailey Ave. on Saturday at 9:10 p.m.

When the victim arrived at the floor where he lived in the NYCHA building, the two men pushed him into his apartment, police said.  

Once inside, police said the perpetrators used duct tape to tie the man to a chair. They then threatened to harm him with a knife that they took from the kitchen. 

Afterwards, the attackers took the victim off the chair and placed him in a room, where they both beat him while demanding PIN numbers to his credit cards, according to the police report. 

The victim’s left eye was injured in the assault, police said.

Police said that later, the pair taped the man’s hands together with duct tape and threw him on the bed while they ransacked the room. 

The victim told police that his attackers were in his apartment for about an hour and a half. 

At the end of the attack, the duo took the victim’s house keys, $10 cash, the victim’s Medicaid card, credit cards and other personal information before fleeing at around 11:30 p.m. 

Police are conducting an investigation. 

B. Green Dot scam 

Criminals involved in Green Dot MoneyPak Scams are still duping residents, police said.

On Nov. 28 at 3411 Irwin Ave. just before 3 p.m., a 43-year-old man reported that he received an unexpected call from an unknown person claiming that he was a member of the IRS.

According to police, the criminals threatened to put the man’s license and bank accounts on hold, but it was a scam.

The person told the victim that they would proceed with legal action against him if he did not purchase $3,950 worth of the popular prepaid debit card.

The caller was a fraud, but by 5:15 p.m., the man had already sent $3,990, $40 more than the criminal requested through the Green Dot MoneyPak card, police said. 

The case is open to detectives. 

C. Sedgwick Ave. robbery

A 20-year-old man was attempting to leave a building at 2719 Sedgwick Ave. on Monday at 11:10 p.m.

That is when four men approached him and blocked the exit, preventing him from leaving the apartment building.

Police said the four perpetrators demanded money and property from the victim.

The man refused to hand over his money or possessions to the robbers, police said.

According to police, one of the robbers displayed a firearm and fired two rounds, striking the victim once in his left thigh. The four men ran away afterwards, without taking anything from the victim, according to police. 

The victim was treated and released at a local hospital. The case is under investigation.

D. Electronics stolen

Police said that a 50-year-old woman left her apartment at 3656 Johnson Ave. with her family on Nov. 27 at 9:15 a.m.

When she returned on Saturday around 2:45 p.m., her entire house was ransacked and multiple items were missing, police said. 

There was more than $5,000 worth of items stolen, such as jewelry, a television, computers, cameras and other electronics, according to the police report.

Police believe that the burglar entered through a window, which the victim noticed was slightly opened when she returned home. 

Police are reviewing surveillance footage from cameras in the building.

The case is open to detectives.

E. DWI near Deegan

Police said a 62-year-old man was driving a Ford Taurus recklessly near Van Cortlandt Park West and the Major Deegan Expressway on Nov. 26 at around 2:20 a.m.

When police pulled the man over, he appeared to be intoxicated. Police also smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from his vehicle.

The driver agreed to take a Breathalyzer test, police said.

According to police his blood alcohol level (BAC) was .24.  He was arrested and charged with DWI. 

F. Windows smashed

A Verizon employee left his company vehicle in front of 3411 Irwin Ave. on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Police said that when he returned to the vehicle at around 4:46 p.m., he noticed that the windows of the car were smashed in.

His BlackBerry cellphone, which was approximately $400, was also stolen from the vehicle, police said.

G. Shots fired

Police said that shots were fired on Nov. 25 at 8 p.m. in front of 3004 Heath Ave. When police arrived at the scene, they found shell cases.

The perpetrators fled to an unknown location after the shooting, police said. The case is open to detectives. 

Items in Police Beat are based on reports of crimes and arrests. Those arrested are not guilty unless a court convicts them. Police Beat does not include every crime in our coverage area.