Pricey car part stolen

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Pricey car part stolen
Post Road and Manhattan College Parkway
Bronx, NY 10471
Uber driver jumped
2690 Webb Avenue
Bronx, NY 10468
Violent altercation
3075 Heath Avenue
Bronx, NY 10463
Scary encounter
3115 Sedgwick Avenue
Bronx, NY 10463
Tires, rims stolen
3041 Arlington Avenue
Bronx, NY 10463

1. Police said that a brazen thief got his hands on a pricy platinum part between 4 p.m. on March 10 and 6 a.m. on March 11, when he sawed the catalytic converter out from underneath a 2002 Toyota 4Runner. The 50-year-old victim discovered the theft of his exhaust system when he started the 4Runner up and “heard a lot of noise coming from the vehicle.”

The theft occurred at the intersection of Post Road and Manhattan College Parkway, which police characterized as a “desolate” and “quiet” place. It marks the latest in a series of stolen catalytic converters, a trend that has picked up in the last two or three years, police said. The lucrative trade in the platinum auto part saw thieves strike in Riverdale at a U-Haul and other locations last year.

2. Uber driver jumped

Responding to an assignment from Uber, a 46-year-old drove to meet three 19-year-old black men at 2690 Webb Ave. at 11 p.m. on March 14. Police said he let them into his car and followed their directions north to Broadway and Exterior St. It was there the three men jumped him.

The first man lunged from the backseat and placed the 46-year-old in a chokehold. The second held a knife to the victim, demanded his wallet and took $200 cash. The third man stole two phones from the victim: an iPhone 5 valued at $500 and an iPhone 6 valued at $700.

As the three men ran off, the victim caught sight of the knife-wielder’s red jacket. It was the only additional description he could provide to police.

3. Violent altercation

An argument between neighbors at 3075 Heath Ave. turned violent 12:50 and 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, police said.

A 50-year-old woman living at the residence began arguing with the mother of a 35-year-old who also lived there. As the 50-year-old began to yell, the 35-year-old jumped in to argue on her mother’s behalf.

After a few more minutes, the 50-year-old lashed out at the 35-year-old, scratching her and causing lacerations to the left side of her face. Police called to the scene charged her for menacing.

4. Scary encounter

When a knock summoned a 29-year-old woman to her front door at 3115 Sedgwick Ave. at 7:45 p.m. on Saturday, she saw the black barrel of a gun staring back at her through her peephole, police said.

When she recoiled, then looked once more, the gun and its bearer had vanished. The victim suspected the perpetrator was a person she is having an altercation with, although police could not confirm her hunch. The case remains open.

5. Tires, rims stolen

The blue 2015 Grand Cherokee SRT is “dripping with attitude,” the promotional materials read, “with its aggressive stance.” Unfortunately for the owner of a 2015 SRT parked at 3041 Arlington Ave. last week, that stance was somewhat compromised, police said.

The Cherokee’s Pirelli tires, valued at $1,200, were stripped along with its rims, valued at $3,600, between 10 p.m. on March 9 and 8 a.m. on March 10. The case remains open to detectives. Police said they will research camera footage in the area for evidence of a thief with attitude.

Police beat, catalytic converters, Uber, robbery, menacing, intimidation, larceny