Police Beat

BY KEVIN DEUTSCH

Terrifying robbery

1. Ten men tied up a Kingsbridge man in his own apartment, doused him with flammable liquid and threatened to set him ablaze if he didn’t tell them where his money was stashed, police said. The attackers, three of them armed with guns, were inside the man’s apartment in the 2700 block of Reservoir Avenue when he came home about 2 a.m. on Oct. 28. He tried to run, but the men pulled him inside, tied him up, and put a plastic bag and towel over his head, police said. While ransacking his apartment, the robbers poured Acetone — a paint thinner — onto his head and threatened to ignite him and then bashed him with a heavy object before making off with $300 and a cell phone. The tied-up victim managed to get to the hallway, where a neighbor spotted him and called police. The attackers have not been found.

2. Domestic assault

A man smacked his girlfriend’s face with a belt and punched her in the mouth at a Subway restaurant in the 5900 block of Broadway on Oct. 30, the 19-year-old victim told police. The 10:30 a.m. assault left the victim with a swollen face, scratched arm and bruises on her neck. Her 21- year-old boyfriend, of Yonkers, was arrested and charged with felony assault.

3. Shot fired

A man was walking into his apartment on Oct. 31, about midnight, when one robber snuck up from behind and tried to wrap tape across his mouth, and two others went through his pockets, police said. The 53-year-old victim fought back and was pistol-whipped, causing a round to fire from the gun. No one was hit by the bullet. The robbers fled the apartment in the 220 block of Naples Terrace about midnight, making off with the man’s apartment keys and cell phone. No arrests have been made.

4. Woman assaulted

Three masked robbers assaulted a woman as she exited the subway at Broadway and West 225th Street on Nov. 1, punching her in the stomach and stealing the clothes and pills she carried, police said. The 44-year-old victim suffered bruises and bleeding during the midnight assault. No arrests have been made.

5. Car theft

A man who had just used a screwdriver to steal a car was arrested as he tried to get away on Broadway and West 239th Street on Oct. 30, police said. The alleged perpetrator, 40, has 13 arrests since 2003 for drug possession, petty larceny and other crimes. He admitted to stealing the car, police said.

6. Stolen plate

Police arrested a man they said was riding down Bailey Avenue in a BMW with a stolen plate. The Oct. 30 arrest came after cops ran a check on the vehicle tag and pulled the driver over. The 27-year-old Kingsbridge resident is charged with criminal possession of stolen property.

7. Laptops stolen

A woman stole two laptops, a video system and games from her sister on Oct. 30 in the 5800 block of Arlington Avenue, the alleged victim told police. The stolen property was valued at about $3,550. No arrests have been made.

Items in Police Beat are based on reports of crimes and arrests. Those arrested are not guilty unless they are convicted by a court.

This is part of the November 5, 2009 online edition of The Riverdale Press.

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