One man robbery spree
Cops have arrested a 17-year-old who could have single-handedly caused the 90th Precinct’s robbery figures to rise.
Officials said that Lamel Best was apprehended this week for three holdups he allegedly committed on Montrose Avenue near Graham Avenue which took place within minutes of each other.
According to Kings County prosecutors, Best approached his first victim at 7:40 p.m. and pointed “what appeared to be a handgun” and ordered her to walk around the corner with him.
The woman managed to evade the inevitable outcome of this exchange by avoiding Best and continue on her way.
When the 17-year-old grabbed her arm she yanked it away and ran off screaming for help, according to published reports.
At roughly the same time, Best approached a second woman, flashed his gun and asked the woman how much money she had.
His victim forked over $80, a cell phone and a Blackberry to the teen before he stormed off to rob a third woman.
This time Best jammed the gun into the woman’s side, grabbed her arm and demanded she hand over her money.
Once again the woman ran away screaming, officials said.
Best was apprehended a short time later, charged with two counts of attempted robbery, robbery, grand larceny and menacing.
Attacked and robbed
A neighborhood grocer had his teeth knocked out of his head during a daring raid committed by a couple of jaw breakers.
Cops from the 90th Precinct said that the suspects barged into the store on Wythe Avenue between South 8th Street and Broadway at 8 p.m. on November 12 and jumped the supermarket clerk.
They punched the man repeatedly, chipping several of his teeth, and then ran off with $350 in receipts and fifteen cases of beer, officials said.
Police are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to come forward.
Calls can be made to the 90th Precinct at (718) 963-5311. All calls will be kept confidential.
UPS undercover
A thief masqueraded as a UPS delivery man so he and an accomplice could rob a travel agency on Graham Avenue, officials said.
Police said that 43-year-old Martin Rivera entered Atlantic Travel at 10 a.m. on November 2 in full UPS regalia as well as a clipboard and box in his hand.
When it comes to putting his victim at ease, the uniform worked — at least until Rivera grabbed a worker, threw the man to the floor and demanded his money.
Police said that Rivera’s accomplice entered the store seconds later with a gun.
Both men fled with an employee’s gold chain and $25,000 in receipts, officials said.
Investigators apprehended Rivera this week, charging him with robbery, criminal possession of stolen property, grand larceny, criminal impersonation and menacing.
Rape investigated
Police are investigating a woman’s claims that she was sexually assaulted inside a neighborhood eatery.
The woman said that she was celebrating with friends at the Metropolitan Avenue cafe between Wythe Avenue and Berry Street at about 10 p.m. on November 7 when she went to the bathroom.
The woman said she went into the men’s room by mistake and was confronted by an unidentified male who forced her to have sex with him.
Cops were looking for the assailant as this paper went to press.
Pistoleer sought
An area man has been connected to a pistol-whipping and robbery in Brooklyn Heights, officials said.
Police said that 32-year-old Tommy Hairston, a resident of George Street, was being sought for questioning on the September 3 robbery.
A 67-year-old man said that he was exiting his vehicle on Pierrepont Street just before 9 p.m. when Hairston allegedly ran up to him with a gun in his hand.
Hairston demanded that the victim hand over a bag he was carrying containing money.
When the victim refused, he allegedly pistol-whipped the victim.
Hairston was last seen fleeing the area in a white-colored automobile. The car was later recovered in East New York, although Hairston could not be found.
His victim was taken to New York Methodist Hospital with a large cut to his face.
Cops are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to come forward.
Calls can be made to the NYPD CrimeStoppers hotline at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
Laptop looting
A 24-year-old man returned to his Grand Street apartment last week to discover that someone had swiped his MacBook.
The victim said that he had left his apartment between Leonard Street and Manhattan Avenue at 6 p.m. on November 7.
Sometime during the night two thieves snuck in and took the MacBook, as well as an iPod Touch, police learned.
Investigators said that this was one of nine computer thefts that took place in the area last week.
Other thefts occurred on South 1st Street, South 3rd Street and Lorimer Street, officials said.
Anyone with information regarding these thefts are encouraged to contact the cops at the 90th Precinct at (718) 963-5311. All calls will be kept confidential.