Police beat

No K2 here; grand larcenies abound

Posted
2. Grand larceny at Vannie
3. Cyclist snatches jacket
4. Cherokee stolen
259 W. 253rd St.
Bronx, NY
5. Car break-in

The NYPD is conducting investigations at bodegas throughout the city that are suspected of selling the cheap, dangerous synthetic drug knows as K2.

An operation at four bodegas within the confines of the 50th Precinct did not turn up any K2 last month.

Officers from the 50th and other city agencies went to addresses at sites along Broadway and near Webb Avenue, according to Capt. Terence O’Toole, the commanding officer of the 50th.

While city and state lawmakers are seeking to criminalize the sale of K2, a combination of chemicals and substances that looks like marijuana, the drug is not illegal yet. So authorities are starting to crack down on bodegas that sell the drug by scrutinizing them for violations like sales of untaxed cigarettes and environmental infractions.

Capt. O’Toole said only minor violations were found at four bodegas the 50th visited in the last week of August — but not K2. He added the NYPD plans to maintain the pressure on locations suspected of selling the drug.

“We’re going to try to do that every so often,” Capt. O’Toole said. “It will keep the stores on their toes and hopefully end [K2 sales.]”

2. Grand larceny at Vannie

Police said unknown perpetrators pillaged a man’s vehicle containing his students’ bags down Mansion Road in Van Cortlandt Park earlier this month. The crime took place on Sept. 5 between 8 and 11:15 a.m., but was not reported until Saturday.

The 63-year-old victim said while away from his car, someone broke in and stole the bags, which contained an iPhone 6, an iPod, headphones and other items — a total of $6,000 in goods.

The grand larceny case is closed to detectives.

3. Cyclist snatches jacket

An unknown suspect stole a jacket containing an iPhone 4, state IDs and a Metro Card in Van Cortlandt Park near West 242nd Street on Saturday at 10 p.m., according to authorities.

A woman told police she placed her jacket on a bench, but after turning around, she saw a man speeding off on a bicycle with the garment. The value of goods stolen was not known.

The grand larceny case remains open to the squad.

4. Cherokee stolen

A man told police after parking his 2014 Jeep Cherokee at West 239th Street and Putnam Avenue on Sept. 18 between 12:30 and 1 a.m., he returned about 10 to 20 minutes later to find the vehicle missing.

The value of the Jeep in was estimated at $20,000.

The grand larceny auto case is closed to detectives.

5. Car break-in

About $1,400 in goods were stolen out of a vehicle parked at 259 W. 253rd St. on Saturday, according to police.

The 27-year-old male victim said his car window was broken and wallet, laptop, camera charger and other items stolen in the grand larceny.

The case is closed to detectives.

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.

K2, grand larceny, Mansion Road, grand larceny auto