Police Blotter: Crook Steals $5K in Cash from Man's Car After Being Towed

The following information was supplied by the 78th Precinct of the NYPD. It does not indicate a conviction.

Bad Tow

A crook stole over $5,000 in cash from a man’s car after it was towed to a Ninth Street parking garage on July 24.

The 53-year-old victim told police that he got into a car accident while driving his black Lincoln and was transported to the hospital while his car was brought to Fleet Auto Enterprise Inc.’s parking garage between Second and Third avenues at around 3 a.m. When he went to pick up his car the same day at 11 a.m., he found that his belongings were missing from the center console. The crook got away with $5,094 in cash, a GPS device, a screwdriver, a fruit knife and a flashlight.  

Basketball Court Thief

A thief snatched a man’s bag while he was playing basketball on M.S. 51’s basketball courts on Fifth Street and got away with his credit cards and iPhone on July 24.

The 30-year-old victim told police that he was playing basketball on the M.S. 51 basketball courts on Fifth Street, between Fourth and Fifth avenues, and placed his bag on the ground near other player’s bags at around 7 p.m. When he went to retrieve his bag 30 minutes later, it was gone. The crook got away with his wallet, debit and credit cards and iPhone. 

Beverage Truck Bandit

A thief snatched $1,190 in cash from a commercial delivery truck on 13th Street on July 22.

The driver of the Preferred Beverage Inc. truck, a 21-year-old man, told police that he parked between Fourth and Fifth avenues, put $1,190 in cash behind the driver’s seat, got out and locked the doors at around 3:40 p.m. When he returned 10 minutes later, the cash was gone. The doors were still locked, no signs of forced entry, but the windows were slightly down.  

Ducati Gone

A booster jacked a motorcycle parked on 12th Street sometime between July 20 and 23.

The 49-year-old victim told police that he parked his red Ducati motorbike between Fourth and Fifth avenues on July 20 at around 7 p.m. When he went back to take it for a ride on July 23 at around noon, it was gone. 

Tool Van Heist

A thief broke into a van parked on Third Avenue and stole almost $2,000 worth of tools and supplies sometime between July 20 and 23.

The 41-year-old victim told police that he parked his Verizon van between Butler and Douglass streets at around 4 p.m. on July 20. When he returned to his van on July 23 at around 10:30 a.m., he found that someone had picked the lock and snatched $1,943 worth of tools.