Crime Report: Robberies and Cell-Phone Snatches

Today, we’re looking back on the past month of crime within the Ninth Precinct. Earlier it was beat-downs, brawls, and blades. Then: Burgled businesses and stolen rides. And now: Robberies and cell-phone snatches. 

metroDaniel Maurer Metro PCS on Jan. 6
  • At last, the incriminating words uttered by the man who twice robbed a Metro PCS store on 14th Street have been revealed. An employee at the store between First and Second Avenues told police that when the suspect showed up on Jan. 20, he said, “Give me the money, I was here before,” and simulated a gun. The man then told the victim to go downstairs into the basement, and he made a run for it.
  • Three perps pushed a woman down and snatched her shopping bag on Jan. 22. The victim told police she was at Second Avenue and East Ninth Street at around 8:30 p.m. when she was shoved and robbed.
  • An attempt to hold an iPhone ransom went sour on Feb. 11. The 22-year-old victim told the police that when she realized her phone was missing she called it at around 2:30 a.m. and was told she could have it back for $150. The suspect instructed her to meet him at East First Street and Avenue A. When they made their rendezvous an officer pounced from behind, leading to a struggle on the street. The officer eventually arrested a 46-year-old man and recovered the woman’s bag and iPhone.
  • A teenager snatched a woman’s phone on Jan. 24. The 26-year-old victim told the police she was on East Seventh Street between Second and Third Avenues at around 10 p.m. when the suspect put her arm around her neck, covered her eyes and grabbed the phone. Police are on the hunt for a 17-year-old woman.
  • An 18-year-old was arrested and charged with robbing the Village Farm on Jan. 27. An employee of the store on Second Avenue between Ninth and 10th Streets said that the suspect walked in at around 12:45 a.m., simulated a gun and demanded the money in the register, saying he would shoot the worker in the head. The suspect was arrested in front of the store, where the police said he tried to throw the money he had just stolen under one of their cars.
  • Four attackers beat up a girl who was visiting her grandmother on Jan. 28 and stole her phone. The 21-year-old victim told the police she was at an apartment on 14th Street between Avenues B and C at around 12:30 a.m. when the quartet beat her up and stole her cellphone. The victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital, and a 22-year-old woman was arrested. Police are still searching for the three other suspects.
  • A thief stole a woman’s purse as she was leaving the Eastern Bloc nightclub on Feb. 12. The 36-year-old victim told the police she was on her way out of the club at Avenue B and East Fourth Street at around 4 a.m. when she was pushed to the ground and robbed of her purse.
  • An off-duty FBI agent tussled with a would-be iPhone thief in the Astor Place station on Feb. 8. The 23-year-old victim told the police that the 6 train was arriving at around 9:26 p.m. when the thief made his move. The FBI agent then struggled with the perp, who pushed the agent into a wall, making a cut above his left eye. The agent — who had to get stitches for the cut — managed to get the phone, but the thief escaped.
  • A taxi driver was punched in the face and robbed of $135 on Jan. 21. The victim told police that he was on East Ninth Street between Third and Fourth Avenues at 2:15 a.m. when a man approached the driver-side window and said, “Give me the money.” He then hit the driver in the face and took off in a Ford Expedition. The cabbie followed the car for a while, but three passengers persuaded him to give up the chase.
  • A man whose iPhone 4 was swiped on Feb. 7 told the police he was on Second Avenue near East Ninth Street at around 3:50 p.m. when two thieves snatched his phone. The victim said he tried to get it back, resulting in several blows to his face. The police later arrested two suspects.
  • A shoplifter swiped two pairs of leather pants from the Daryl K boutique on Jan. 16. An employee told police that she was helping a customer at around 6:15 p.m. when a man came in and sat on a display by the front of the store on Bond Street between Bowery and Lafayette Street. When he left she noticed the pants were missing.
  • A thief snatched a woman’s cellphone out of her hand at Avenue A and East Houston Street on Jan. 18. The victim told the police she was at the corner at around 9:40 p.m. when the thief made his move.
  • A woman’s wallet was stolen at La Linea on Jan. 28. The 22-year-old victim said she was at the club on First Avenue between First and Second Streets at around 3 a.m. when the man approached and began grabbing her. She moved away from him and realized her wallet – containing a credit card, ID, and $5 – was missing from her purse.
  • A thief gave a woman buying coffee the old bump-and-rob on Feb. 3. The 68-year-old victim told the police she was buying coffee at First Avenue and East First Street at around 10 a.m. when a man bumped her and swiped $15 and an assortment of credit cards from her coat pocket.
  • A man crept up on a woman dancing at Solas and stole items from her purse on Feb. 4. The 24-year-old victim told the police she was dancing at the club on East Ninth Street between Second and Third Avenues at around midnight when a stranger rubbed up against her. That’s when she realized she was missing her cellphone, debit cards and $60.
  • A malodorous man snatched an Australian woman’s wallet right out of her hand at the Second Avenue subway station on Feb. 6. The victim told the police that she was entering the subway at around 8:50 p.m. when she passed a disheveled, smelly man who grabbed her wallet and ran out of the station. The victim screamed and a witness gave chase, but to no avail. She lost an Australian ID, Euros, and an assortment of credit cards.