Police Beat

Valentine’s robbery leaves man strapped

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No roses, chocolate or cheap red wine — just an old-fashioned stickup for one unsuspecting fellow in a quick heist involving a couple swift assailants.

A 59-year-old told police he was getting into his car on the 3000 block of Albany Crescent in Kingsbridge around 9:40 p.m., Feb. 14, when two strangers crept up, whipped out a gun, and demanded he hand over money. Fast.

The heat-packing duo got what they asked for, snatching a grand in hard cash before running off east toward West 231st Street, according to a report.

Police described one of the alleged robbers as a younger man, 20 or so, around 5-foot-7, donning a green baseball cap and gray jeans. His accomplice appeared to be around the same age and height, but his jeans reportedly were blue.

While the older man alleges the partners in crime stripped him of quite a few bills, he probably wasn’t hurt, according to a report. Regardless, cops are looking into the robbery.

 

Forgotten key leads to luxe joyride

In neighborhoods like Fieldston and Riverdale — already plagued by sundry car crimes, from scratches and break-ins to outright theft — police urge car owners to make the criminal’s job a little harder. Which also means leaving the keys inside probably isn’t a wise move.

A 50-year-old told police he was notified by what cops described as a private security company that his car — a gray 2018 Porsche — was parked in front of his home on the 4700 block of Fieldston Road around 3 a.m., Jan. 18, and that he might want to keep an eye on it. Or at least consider parking it somewhere more secure.

But when the guy ran out to check on his luxury ride, it wouldn’t budge because someone reportedly had stolen a key he’d left inside.

The man didn’t report the missing key to police immediately. Instead he installed a security camera in his car, according to a report.

Yet very early on the morning of Jan. 28, someone slipped inside the Porsche, driving off to parts unknown, based upon footage from the security camera.

While that footage — along with cell phone video the car’s owner provided later — may help cops track down the stolen Porsche — valued at $125,000 — that’s probably little immediate comfort to the owner, who woke up that morning, Jan. 28, around 7 a.m., to find his sporty sedan missing from where he’d left it, police said.

All of this was finally reported to police shortly after, more than a week after he realized the key had vanished.

 

Petty hubcap heist unsolved

Rims, tires, catalytic converters, and even hubcaps — it seems there’s no end to the broad range of bits and pieces criminals snatch from cars all over Van Cortlandt Village, Kingsbridge and Riverdale.

A 67-year-old told police she parked her 2005 Toyota Corolla at the intersection of Sedgwick and Saxon avenues, just north of the Jerome Park Reservoir, around 10:30 a.m., Jan. 24. But when she returned four days later a little before lunchtime, she discovered three of her car’s hubcaps — valued by police at around $300 — were gone.

Police reported no additional damage to the Corolla. They’re keeping an eye out for any hubcap thieves behind the petty larceny.

Police Beat, Zak Kostro