Would-be rim thieves caught

1.Police said on Feb. 4, three men were witnessed and later arrested for attempting to steal the tires and rims from a 2011 BMW. 

At the corner of Marble Hill Avenue and West 228th Street, men ages 21, 22 and 26 were spotted trying to remove the rims from the car of the 31-year-old victim. 

Each tire was valued at $1,200 and this case is closed to arrest.

2. Man evades robbers 

At 12:45 a.m. on Monday morning, a 26-year-old man parked his car on the corner of Arlington Avenue and West 227th Street, according to police. After leaving his car, the victim was approached by two males. The first male, described as black, about 18 years old and 6-feet-tall with an afro, revealed a handgun and demanded that the victim hand over all of his money. The victim told his assailants all he had was a briefcase. 

The second perpetrator took the briefcase but before he could get away, the victim pushed him, causing him to drop the item. The two men fled and jumped into a bright orange Dodge Stealth, where a third man drove them away.

While the briefcase was not stolen and there was no description of two of the perpetrators, this case is open to investigation.

3. Drunk driver busted

Police said they stopped a 34-year-old man for driving erratically along Riverdale Avenue and West 236th Street at 2:25 a.m. on Sunday.

The driver of the 2014 Honda reportedly refused a Breathalyzer exam both on scene and at the precinct, but was arrested for driving while intoxicated.

4. Grand larceny auto

Police said sometime between 10 p.m. on Feb. 1 and 2 a.m. the next day, a 2008 Ford Econoline was stolen from the corner of West 231st Street and Godwin Terrace.

The victim, a 48-year-old man, told police that he parked the car overnight and when he returned it had been removed. A canvas of the area produced a negative result and this case is closed to detectives.

5. Car break-in

On Feb. 1, a 45-year-old man returned to his car parked along Netherland Avenue to find that the rear window had been smashed, according to authorities. Upon further inspection of the 2015 Jeep Cherokee, the victim found that his briefcase as well two backpacks and some clothes had been stolen. The stolen property was valued at $1,220. 

There were no cameras at the scene, but this case is still 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.