The weather is hot, and so are a lot of iPhones. Oh, and someone from the Department of Homeland Security had his equipment stolen. It’s this week’s blotter.
I would do more opening schtick, but I’m already late in the game today. However, I’ll start with this gem I reported yesterday, about an unnamed DHS employee who was robbed of things like encrypted cell phones and GPS systems (I know there’s a “systems” in GPS, but it sounds so weird without it.) Any rate, you can read all about it here.
Yesterday when I arrived at the precinct I was greeted with wave upon wave of police reports, nearly all about iPhone (and a few BlackBerry) thefts. You think I’m kidding? To wit:
On Henry St. Friday afternoon, a man grabbed an iPhone from a woman’s hand then ran off on State St.
On a southbound F train in the wee hours of Thursday morning, a perp reached into a car before the doors shut and stole an iPhone from a 26-year-old straphanger.
That afternoon on the A train, a 34-year-old was using his Zune HD Touch when it was suddenly ripped from his hands. No word on whether the perp returned it when he discovered it was a Zune HD Touch.
Tuesday morning at Fulton and Bridge, a man who had a Boost mobile attached to his belt had it yanked away.
On Friday afternoon at Willoughby and Jay, a 19-year-old visiting from Maryland had her Blackberry Curve ripped from her hands.
On Friday around 5:20 a woman was mugged after entering the Hoyt St. station. The thief got her iPhone, iTouch, Coach bag and $150.
In other news—
The Heights Cleaners was robbed Tuesday morning—video cameras caught a man entering the shop around 4:15 a.m. and taking $70 from the cash register.
Similarly, the Sunny Gourmet Deli on Joralemon was hit when a thief somehow lifted the roll-down gate and made off with $1,300. If the Heights Cleaners thief is reading this, you made the wrong call.
Finally, on Friday evening a man walked into a shop on 360 Atlantic Ave. and told the saleswoman he was waiting for his wife. As soon as the shoppers left, he pulled a boxcutter on the saleswoman and told her he wanted money. When she replied that there was none, he had her wait in a back room while he rifled through the clothes and made off with $1,625 worth of dresses. And her iPhone. And that’s this week’s blotter.
