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Bike-Riding Burglar Is Targeting Apartments In Ridgewood, Bushwick, Police Say
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 24, 2017
Modified Jun 24, 2017
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 24, 2017
Modified Jun 24, 2017
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Police are looking for a suspect who has apparently broken into—or tried to break into—five different apartments in Queens and Brooklyn in April and May. In one instance, authorities say he claimed to be a police detective investigating a break-in. In another, he allegedly threatened a victim with a knife.
Here are details from the NYPD about the five burglaries; among the items stolen include two bicycles, jewelry and laptops:
Incident #1: It was reported to police that on Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at 1500 hours at a residence in the vicinity of Catalpa Avenue and 60th Street, a 27-year-old female victim observed from inside the residence an unidentified male enter the front gate of the residence and attempt to open the locked front door with a wallet-size instrument. The unidentified male produced a knife and menaced the victim, removed a bicycle and then fled westbound on Catalpa Avenue. The victim was not injured.
Incident #2: It was reported to police that on Wednesday, April 5, 2017 between 0745 hours and 1620 hours at an apartment building in the vicinity of 68th Avenue and 60th Street, an unidentified individual gained entry to an apartment via a locked door while the 37-year-old female resident/victim was at work. Once inside, the individual removed a MacBook, two rings and a bracelet with a combined value of $2,280.
Incident #3: It was reported to police that on Monday, April 17, 2017 at 2025 hours at a residence in the vicinity of Catalpa Avenue and 60th Lane, an unidentified individual gained entry via the locked front door. Once inside, the unidentified individual unsuccessfully attempted to breech an interior door and fled without removing any property.
Incident #4: It was reported to police that on Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 1720 hours at an apartment building in the vicinity of Wyckoff Avenue and Jefferson Avenue, an unidentified individual gained entry to an apartment via a locked door. Once inside, the unidentified individual removed an HP laptop, three rings, a Canon digital camera, two Kenneth Cole watches, an orange Mongoose bicycle and a light-blue Nike gym bag.
Incident #5: It was reported to police that on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 1745 hours at an apartment building in the vicinity of Putnam Avenue and 60th Street, an unidentified male gained entry to an apartment via a locked door. The 31-year-old male victim returned to his apartment and discovered the unidentified male, who identified himself as a detective investigating a break-in. The unidentified male fled the apartment building to the street and then continued to flee on a yellow bicycle. No property was removed, and the victim was not injured.
Police released images and video of the suspect from the fourth incident, noting he's wearing a New York Islanders hooded sweatshirt and carrying the light-blue Nike gym bag taken from the home. He is also riding a Cannondale bicycle.
Police add that the suspect was wearing an Islanders t-shirt during the fifth incident.
Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
Tagged
burglary
burglary pattern
bushwick
ridgewood
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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