Police Beat - September 11, 2014

1.Rent thief

A 60-year-old man walked inside a store to purchase a bottle of water and a pack of cigarettes on Sept. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the northeast corner of Riverdale Avenue and West 233rd Street. 

According to police, the man had a white envelope with $4,275, which he planned to give to his girlfriend for their rent. 

While he was walking near Ewen Park, he was hit by an unknown man from behind and then slapped on the right side of his face, according to police. When the man fell to the ground, the perpetrator went into his back, right pocket and took the envelope with the man’s rent money. 

According to police, the man believes that he was followed to Riverdale Avenue and Ewen Park from the store where he purchased the bottle of water and pack of cigarettes. Police said that the victim did not see the suspect’s face during the robbery. 

Police are investigating the case.

2. Food court robbery 

A 19-year-old woman who was working at a food court on the northwest corner of West 237th Street and Broadway was approached by an unknown man on Sept. 3 at around 7 p.m. 

The perpetrator ordered a meal and then handed the woman $20, police said. The suspect then pointed his hand toward her. According to police, his hand was covered with a black plastic bag. 

The suspect then told the woman to “Shut up.” When the woman backed away, the man took $350 from the cash drawer before fleeing on Broadway in a red Ford truck, police said. The robbery is under investigation. 

3. Burglary on Broadway

A manager of a discount store at 5657 Broadway on West 233rd Street told police that on Sept. 5., he arrived to open the store at around 9:50 a.m. 

When the manager went inside, he discovered that there were damages to the interior ceiling and the side door that was located on West 233rd Street, police said.  

Approximately $7,850 was stolen from the register and cashbox. Phone cards were also missing from the store, but police could not confirm how many were taken. 

Security cameras were placed in various locations around the store, but the wires were all cut, police said. The case is open to detectives.  

4. Construction equipment stolen