Man pulls gun mid-theft

1. Larceny turned to robbery at 12:58 a.m. on April 29 when a 30-year-old returning to his car was confronted with the barrel of a gun, according to police.

As the 30-year-old approached his vehicle parked opposite 3028 Kingsbridge Terrace, he saw a 31-year-old man removing items from it. When the  victim become aware of the suspect’s presence, he brandished a black firearm and continued to steal from the vehicle.

The robber made off with a Bridgestone Auto Emergency Kit worth $40, a Garmin GPS system worth $50, a GPS stand worth $40, an umbrella worth $15, a black bag of tools valued at $100 and a pair of sunglasses worth $5.25.

Police responding to the scene quickly identified a suspect who was found to be in possession of the stolen goods as well as a “small quantity of cocaine.” The firearm was not recovered.

“This guy has a bunch of priors,” a community affairs spokesman for the 50th Precinct said. “But none of them are violent. This is the first that’s not a burglary.”

2. Bally lockers targeted

Returning to his locker after a workout in the Bally Total Fitness, an 83-year-old discovered that all of his personal items had been stolen — even his pants.

The thief made off with three credit cards, a driver’s license, a watch worth $150, glasses worth $50, $100 in cash and the man’s jeans, valued at $25. According to police, he is the latest victim in an “ongoing problem” with security at the 298 W. 231st St. gym.

“It’s happened too much at that location,” a community affairs spokesman for the 50th Precinct said of larcenies at the fitness center. “It was a problem in the past and after that things got better. But it’s becoming a problem again.”

No damage to the door, the lock or surrounding lockers was found. Police said video cameras in the locker room may provide detectives with crucial evidence in the open larceny case.

3. Citizen helps catch thief

When a thief on a bike pulled up at 170 W. 233rd St., bashed open the window of a white BMW parked outside and absconded with a black briefcase, a citizen observer parked behind the BMW took action.

The man, whose age could not be verified, pursued the biking thief and flagged down a police car patrolling the Fort Independence neighborhood. Some minutes later, officers arrested a 47-year-old cyclist in possession of a briefcase the 62-year-old BMW owner identified as his own.

Police said the 47-year-old has numerous prior arrests for larceny and “similar offenses.”

4. Mental health center assault

At 6:40 p.m. on April 30, an altercation between two individuals at the Parachute NYC crisis respite center on West 232nd Street turned violent, according to police.

A 30-year-old man struck a 26-year-old male in the face, causing bruising and swelling to the victim’s left eye.

Both Osman Mariano, the program’s director, and Robert Brewster, the director of its parent organization, Riverdale Mental Health Association (RMHA), declined to comment on the incident. Police speculated that the assailant was a resident and that the victim was a staff member, based on details listed in the police report.

In an April 23 op-ed, Mr. Brewster described Parachute NYC as “an innovative alternative to hospitalization for people experiencing emotional crises.”

Police closed the felony assault case after arresting the perpetrator, they said.

5. Reckless endangerment

A police chase that began in the 52nd Precinct careened to a halt in front of 3434 Giles Place at 2:20 a.m. on Sunday, police said.

A 20-year-old man “driving at a high rate of speed… weaving in and out of lanes, running red lights and disobeying traffic laws” struck “several” parked vehicles before police apprehended him on charges of reckless endangerment.

Police said a Breathalyzer test confirmed a “low level” of alcohol in the suspect’s blood — 1.37 percent.

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.