DNAinfo: “If you think we’re not going to sue the living crap out of you, you’re wrong,” Fabian Fall, who lost $12,500 when her June 8 wedding was canceled, shouted at Stevens outside the courtroom. “Even if I don’t get a dollar back.”

WPIX:“There was no remorse on his face,” said Suzanne Pudesa. She and fiancé Steve Obeng say they paid reBar $16,000 for an August wedding.

Stevens made a brief appearance in court Thursday morning for a pending tax fraud case. Many of the couples want Stevens slapped with criminal charges connection with the closure of reBar.

CBSNY: Heather Epstein, who was to be married at reBar in June, said she was “excited” to learn about Stevens’ arrest. She said she paid the venue nearly $20,000 and has accepted that it’s unlikely the money will be recovered.
“I mean, this is good news for at least us reBar couples, whether we receive money or not,” Epstein told Diamond. “It’s great that he has surfaced. We can get some kind of justice.”

WSJ: The news of Mr. Stevens’ arrest was “sweet justice, but it’s bittersweet,” said Brian Cavanaugh, who was to have his wedding at reBar on June 7. Mr. Cavanaugh, 28, who works for a foundation, and his bride, Heather Epstein, 27, are still trying to pull off their 70-person wedding, albeit a scaled-down affair. The couple said they paid $19,000 to have their wedding at reBar. “We know our money is gone,” said Mr. Cavanaugh.

“Individually, it’s been devastating for all of us,” said Mr. Cavanaugh of the other brides and grooms affected by reBar’s closure. Together the couples have created a community, he said, meeting up with attorneys. “Out of this devastating experience is coming some positive, especially with the Brooklyn community. And that’s hopeful,” he said.

Gothamist: A prosecutor indicated that a settlement might be reached in the case by the next court date June 12th, a deal which would not include criminal charges. However, the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs confirmed that they were working with the Kings County DA on the investigation, and many couples are still planning on joining together for a class action lawsuit.

As for Steven’s reaction to all of the attention? He appeared to fumble with his phone for the entire time as seen in most videos of his arrival.

I tried my best to dig up stories of werewolves and vampires in the police reports, but they must only be in the 76. Here’s what I do have:

Be on the lookout for a gray 2007 Jeep Liberty, NY lic#EML5583. It was stolen while idling on Smith St. between Dean and Pacific after the driver left her keys in the ignition.

Two cabbies were robbed within hours of each other last Saturday. The first incident took place around 6:45 pm on Smith and Schermerhorn, after two fares turned on their driver, who handed over his cash. The second was on Henry and Joralemon at 11:20 pm, when two men–one wearing a gas mask–threatened a cabbie and made off with $100. (Now THAT’S creepy.) If I may, I will put on my Columbo jacket for Halloween and say that these two cases are related, though police have no leads yet.

A man and woman must have been planning an elaborate hairy costume, as they stole $1,317 worth of hair tubes from Indique salon on Bond St.

A week earlier, two women got into an altercation after one used the other’s hair gel. Both were arrested.

Last Wednesday, a 43-year-old man was cuffed for trying to steal Body Elements Moisturizing Gel Gloves. (Now THAT’S creepy too.)

Finally, around 4 am last Friday, a man playing the role of Good Samaritan confronted a thief whom he saw lifting an iPhone from the pocket of a sleeping straphanger. “That ain’t right,” he told him. The perp must have agreed—or the Samaritan was a big guy—because he handed over the phone to the Atlantic Ave booth clerk. The unwitting victim was awoken at Stillwell Ave and reunited with her phone. And that’s this week’s blotter. Enjoy your Reese’s Pieces!

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/63518

A tipsy fare means a big tip for cabbie. It’s this week’s blotter.

Six MacBooks totaling nearly $10K were stolen from the HUGE office in DUMBO last Thursday.

Last Saturday at Dr. Jay’s, a man stuffed over $20K worth of clothes in a bag; when confronted, he stomped a man on the foot and fled. The clotheshorse was eventually apprehended nearby.

A woman’s gray Honda Odyssey was stolen last Friday from where it was parked at Pierrepont and Clinton.

A few bike incidents: Last Tuesday, a perp broke into the lobby of a building on St. Marks Ave and stole an $800 bicycle.

The week before, a $2,900 bike was stolen from the common area of an apartment building on 3rd Ave.

And last Thursday, a man riding his bike near Smith and Bergen was punched in the face by a would-be bicycle thief. The victim was able to regain possession of his bike, however, and the perp fled.

Finally, a story from the mixed-up files of Foster Brooks: A man who was apparently already drunk by early afternoon flagged a cab on June 21st. He got in a conversation with the cabbie, who suggested some bars for him to visit, and then told the fare that he had to pay before the trip was over. Confused but compliant, the man handed his debit card to the driver, who then told him it wouldn’t swipe, and asked for the PIN number. You can guess the rest. By the time he was dropped off at another bar, the fare realized he’d left his debit card in the cab, and after $3,700 in charges were made on the card, he filed a police report. And that’s this week’s blotter.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/61270

Hold onto your iPhones! It’s this week’s blotter.

Last week’s blotter theme was the theft of expensive wallets; this one is the theft of expensive iPhones.

The first took place on the northbound F train during rush hour last Tuesday evening. At the Jay St station, a 25-year-old woman was dragged onto the platform after the doors opened and a man reached in and grabbed her phone. She eventually let go.

The next robbery took place Friday at 3pm at the Borough Hall station–Perp 1 grabbed a 31-year-old man’s iPhone when the doors opened, while Perp 2 held the doors open during the struggle. The victim eventually chased Perp 1 onto the street but he got away. Perp 2, a 15-year-old, was nabbed at the Nevins St station.

Two days later at 2am at the Jay St station, two perps exiting the southbound A train stopped to grab a 25-year-old man’s iPhone before running out. The victim gave chase but when Perp 1 tried to punch him he relented.

Moving on, a 30-year-old woman fell victim to the ol’ Craigslist swindle. According to the report, she saw a rental listing on Craigslist and met with a man who claimed he was the broker. Two payments totaling $175 cash and one $1,000 money order later, he disappeared and the apartment (listed as being at 486 Brooklyn Ave) is not available.

Another theft during a basketball game at McLaughlin Park–this time, a 20-year-old lost his $350 iPod Touch.

The kiosk on the corner of Henry and Montague was broken into on June 2nd. Among the items stolen were $1,100; a carton of Newports; two cartons of Marlboros; and 80 phone cards. The stolen items totaled $1,632. I thought one carton of cigarettes cost that around here.

Finally, a melee broke out at Family Court, and I have to say, whenever I see “Family Court” at the top of a report, I know I’m in for something else. In fact, this incident took up two reports. In the first, a woman (whom I don’t believe was an attorney but some kind of representative) was consulting with her 17-year-old client when he suddenly hit her in the face with a mug. In the second, the teen’s mother, after hearing he was going to jail, went berserk, tried to shield his body with hers, and then hit the court officers with her umbrella when they tried to take him away. The episode ended with both mother and son arrested. And that’s this week’s blotter.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/59998

Where to start? I’ll begin at New York Sports Club. (I’ve lost count at this point, but I still have not come across Planet Fitness. Keep it up!) Last Monday morning, a gym-goer locked his belongings and went for a workout. When he returned, everything was still there. But unfortunately, he then left the locker open while changing, and returned to find his debit card and $100 gone. The card was used in a cab and then (possibly on the way to) Best Buy.

In other workout news–two days later, a woman who rented the second floor of a building on Schermerhorn St to be used as a “fitness facility” lost her $1,100 laptop and $300 video camera when she left the site to buy art supplies.

On Jay St., an employee’s $900 pink Gucci wallet was stolen after she left her desk to go to a business meeting. Yet another reason not to go to a business meeting. I would have interjected with my limited knowledge of handbags (I call them pocketbooks, after all), and say this must have been a $900 Gucci bag, but the report says the wallet was stolen from inside the bag. So apparently my knowledge of wallets AND handbags is zilch.

Another Gucci wallet was stolen a week later on Gold St. This one was only $300. And there was also $200 inside.

The next day a 63-year-old woman realized her $700 wallet (described only as “wallet red”) along with her ID was stolen. The ID was used to open an account with Hertz Rentals, Men’s Warehouse, and two accounts with CitiBike Share. (CitiBike mention!)

On State St. last Thursday, a woman reported a break-in after she realized her “PSE console” and games were stolen. I will interject with my limited knowledge of gaming consoles and say I think this is a PS3, for what it’s worth. Which is apparently $300.

This report was from May 10th, though I just received it—a break-in on St Marks Ave resulted in a stolen $800 drum pad, and what was described as a “$400 bicycle torher.” I have no knowledge of bikes so I don’t know what “bicycle torher” means. Googling just turns up “bicycle torture.”

A night of drinking on Pineapple St. last week resulted in an assault when a woman attacked her boyfriend after he told her he wanted to turn off the TV and go to sleep.

Health Care Provider JNJ Health Care reported a theft of $5,439.87 from the corporate account.

A scary scene on Bridge St. last Sunday. A 31-year-old woman reported that she was waiting in front of her building for a bus, when suddenly a car pulled up and its occupants ran out and attacked her. The two, a 39-year-old woman and 17-year-old male, were apparently angry that the victim had not deposited a check for the perp in the victim’s account. The two are still at large.

Finally, on Saturday night, a 31-year-old man at the MetroTech station was approached by a woman whom he described as having a fake accent. After she asked him the way to Hoyt-Schermerhorn, he noticed his bag and its contents were gone, including $300, an iPod Touch, and a $30 wallet. And that’s this week’s blotter.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/59784

I confess, it’s been awhile between dances. I had my film premiere on the 16th and a lot of hoo-hah before and after. (BTW – the next showing is June 21st, have I mentioned?) But I’m back to the daily grind. To wit: I was wearing my headphones on the way to the 84 this morning, and it looked like some man was trying to get my attention. Was it because of Knishes? My blotter? Had I achieved my dream of getting recognized in Downtown Brooklyn? Alas: “I really want to know—how’s life as a redhead?” he asked. It’s terrific. And now for the perps.

Two women got into fisticuffs inside the Ocean View Diner last Wednesday after some late-night dining.

Two other women got into an altercation the next morning outside 209 Joralemon St. A 45-year-old woman reported that her gal pal threw a cup of coffee at her and her baby after an argument. The accused is still at large.

A few hours before, a camera caught three people breaking into 209 Joralemon St—aka Marty Markowitz’s office. It’s not known if proclamations or anything else was stolen. According to the cameras, the trio hung out on the first floor for half an hour before going upstairs and then leaving, making this one of the dullest break-ins ever.

Last Tuesday in my dream building, a 21-year-old woman gave permission for workers to fix the entryway in her apartment while she was out. When she returned, her $2,500 wedding ring and $550 camera were gone.

While playing basketball at McLaughlin Park last Monday, a 33-year-old (who does not read the blotter) was robbed of two iPhones and $320.

The next day, a laptop was stolen from Amplify’s office on Washington St. The report lists the laptop as a Mac worth $28,500—I’m not sure if the police added an extra zero or there were a heck of a lot of apps.

Finally, a 48-year-old woman was nabbed at Macy’s after trying to grab $76 in men’s drawers, $70 in panties, $234 in “active wear,” and $44 in Epic Threads. And that’s this week’s blotter.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/59446

The days are getting longer but the perps are getting brazen-er. It’s this week’s blotter.

I had to get to the precinct a bit later yesterday but was greeted with a much more relaxed 84–maybe because of the weather, maybe because it was almost lunchtime. Because it certainly wasn’t due to the lack of crime going on, there was a stack of reports to get through. Starting with …

Another sleepy straphanger got snookered. (Alright, maybe “snookered” isn’t precisely correct, but it sounds good.) Translation: a 33-year-old woman fell asleep at the 53rd St R station, and when she awoke at Atlantic, her $1,100 MacBook Pro was gone.

An ATM at 3 in 1 Fast Food on Hoyt Street was destroyed early in the morning on April 29th. Pieces were strewn about the sidewalk, and $7,200 was stolen. Interestingly, this was the same place that an ATM was torn open with help from an SUV a couple weeks earlier. By the way, here are the Yelp reviews for 3 in 1, aside from a new ATM, apparently they need some help in customer service.

Last Tuesday, a 50-year-old woman left her pocketbook–with $9,000 inside–in a drawer at her home office on Bond Street. At some point one of the people with access to her apartment, including a housekeeper and babysitter, found the bag and stole the money. Though whether it was out of fear, guilt, or some other emotion, he or she took $7,500 instead of the entire amount.

Last Sunday, a 29-year-old man spit on a 39-year-old man at Brooklyn Criminal Court, and claimed he was HIV-positive. The man was arrested for assault.

There were several incidents of broad-daylight muggings: Last Saturday afternoon at the Fulton Mall, a 28-year-old man was jumped by three men who stole his Air Jordan 5s.

On Wednesday, a 36-year-old woman was on Dean Street walking toward Smith when a man grabbed her iPhone and disappeared on Hoyt.

The next morning, a bag was stolen from a 33-year-old man who was sitting on a bench at 360 Adams Street.

Last Tuesday at 2 p.m., a 59-year-old teacher at PS 307 went to an 8 am staff meeting; if that wasn’t bad enough, the bag she’d left in her desk was stolen.

That same day at 2pm at the 7 Old Fulton Street restaurant, a 19-year-old girl put her $750 bag down to chat with some friends, only to discover 10 minutes later that it was gone, along with a $2,000 MacBook Pro and $830 Canon Camera. And yikes, here are the Yelp reviews for this restaurant, they’re as bad as 3 in 1 Fast Food.

An hour earlier, a 27-year-old man was mugged on Sidney and Joralemon by someone believed to have a knife. The thief made off with $400.

At 4:45 pm that same day, a 15-year-old was approached by four males at Concordia Park who shoved him to the ground and stole his $375 transitional lenses. A bespectacled police officer and I were discussing what “transitional lenses” were. “Why transitional? He should have gone for the real thing,” he said. He then let me know he’s going for lasik surgery, he’d heard great reviews about it.

And finally, on Thursday at 1pm, a man outside 49 Duffield Street was pushed to the ground by a perp who stole his bike. And then his eyeglasses. And that’s this week’s blotter.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/58739

Another robbery at Macy’s, another sleeping straphanger loses his iPod, and Planet Fitness is now 0-4. It’s this week’s blotter.

On Thursday outside Perla Grocery at 429 Warren St., a 48-year-old man was assaulted and robbed of $19.14. A 47-year-old was later arrested for stealing the loot.

A 25-year-old asleep on the D train on April 11th at 3 a.m. awoke to find his backpack gone, which contained a MacBook, iPod and $500.

A week later, a 54-year-old woman received a surprisingly legitimate email from a real bank—though that wasn’t good news. Apparently, someone changed her account password and stole $7,550.

An 18-year-old looking for a new pair of shoes instead found herself filing a police report on April 19th. According to this report, while she was trying on shoes, someone sat next to her, distracted her, and stole her wallet. I had just seen something like this on a show called Brain Games on Nat Geo the other night. (No advertising intended, even though it sounds like it. Incidentally, have I mentioned I’m job hunting?) At any rate, they showed how easy it is to distract someone, since the brain isn’t wired to handle multiple stimuli. (I’m sure I’m phrasing this wrong, but you get the idea.) I’ve seen this in previous police reports, where the perp will ask his mark, “What time is it?” before striking. So if someone stops you on the street asking for the time, my advice is to run screaming into the night.

Approximately $40,000 worth of copper plating was stolen from the basement of my dream building, the Sweeney Building, back on March 22nd. There was no sign of a break-in, and multiple people have access.

Be on the lookout for a gray Ford Taurus, license plate # DSX6601. It’s hot!

A Queens woman heading to a doctor’s appointment was mugged on April 10th at 9:30 a.m. on Joralemon St.

A 12-year-old was arrested for felony robbery on April 10th. It’s hard for me to believe that someone born in 2001 is now old enough to commit a felony, but I guess time flies. He stole the Metro PCS Coolpad from a 12-year-old schoolmate and then threatened him, saying, “If you bring the cops to my house again, I’ll kill you.” The victim originally reported that the incident took place at the Atlantic St. subway hub, but once he was with his mother, he admitted it actually took place at a park nearby at Schermerhorn St park. He had lied to avoid getting in trouble, as apparently he was not supposed to be there.

Finally, on April 19th at 10:30 p.m., a cabbie picked up a fare with a female at Court and Montague. According to the report, the fare said he wanted to be dropped off at Coney Island Avenue and Cortelyou Road, and the cabbie refused. At this point I can empathize with the fare, as I can’t tell you how many half-wit lies and sneers I get when I ask to go to Brooklyn Heights, never mind Coney Island. But the fare took it one step further, punching the driver and then stealing $310.

Oh, and I’ve been covering the blotter again for a month and all quiet from Planet Fitness. And that’s this week’s blotter.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/57817

Hey there, Perps and Skells! It’s HQ here, newly unemployed and free to get down to business with the blotter again! I know, it’s been a while …

Though I was gainfully employed for a year and a half, I did miss my reports on Planet Fitness and hot-off-the-2-train iPods. So needless to say I was thrilled to be let go from a steady paycheck and gain the opportunity to pay weekly visits to the 84th Precinct.

I got off to a bit of a rough start, though–getting an appointment with Crime Analysis was now like trying to score a table at Rao’s, and “Don’t you know who I am?” impressed no one. Still, after two days I decided to name-drop “Homer Fink” and doors were suddenly opened. Just like at Rao’s! But enough about Homer, on with the miscreants.

On March 19th at 5:30 p.m., a 20-year-old male tried to buy a ring from ID Jewelry on Fulton St. Unfortunately, the love-struck Romeo used a stolen credit card, and was arrested at the scene.

Also on March 19th at 4 p.m., a verbal dispute between two workers at the 388 Bridge St construction site in DoBro (vom) turned violent, with one hitting the other over the head with an unknown weapon. A 35-year-old male was arrested.

On March 22nd at 9:30, two men entered a Blimpie’s at the corner of Pearl and Willoughby–one watched the door while the other ran to the register, flashed a gun, and got the cashier to throw $1,000 into a plastic CVS bag. The two men are still at large.

Also on March 22nd, a 16-year-old male being arraigned at 120 Schermerhorn went berserk and smashed a computer screen, pieces of which went flying into a police officer’s eye. The juvenile was removed from court, while the officer was taken to LICH.

On March 24th around 1 a.m., a woman was mugged at Pacific and 4th; a 31-year-old man was caught red-handed with her bag.

And finally–no reports of any Planet Fitness shenanigans, but the YMCA on Atlantic was the scene of a locker room break-in–a man claimed he locked his locker, but when he returned from his workout, his wallet and cell phone were gone. It’s deja-vu all over again. And that’s this week’s blotter.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/56827

Police are looking for a man who, they say, robbed the Investors Bank at 81 Court St. around 6:00 Wednesday evening.

The suspect allegedly demanded money from two tellers who complied right away, but their “contributions” apparently weren’t enough to appease him. He demanded that they enter the vault and retrieve more cash. $20,000 later, the perp was on his way.

The robber is described as a black male, 25-to-35 years old, 5’6″ to 5’8″ in height, light complexion, thin build, and wearing a blue Yankees hat and a black leather jacket. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).  The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES), then entering TIP577.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/53248

Earlier this week an indictment was issued:

Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes today announced the indictment of Michael Volpe, 32, and his wife, Alisa Volpe, 25, for possessing weapons and drugs, and keeping an alligator in their West 6th Street home. Michael Volpe was indicted on charges including three counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree. Michael and Alisa Volpe were both indicted on charges including three counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, Possession of Ammunition, four counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, Overdriving, Torturing and Injuring Animals and Failure to Provide Proper Sustenance, Wild Animals Prohibited and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana. If convicted, Michael Volpe faces a maximum of seven years in prison and Alisa Volpe faces up to one year in jail.

On October 1, 2012, officers from the 66th precinct executed a search warrant at the home of Michael and Alisa Volpe, a one-bedroom basement apartment. The indictment charges that when the officers entered, they found metal knuckles, a fully-loaded revolver, and a loaded pistol. They also recovered a variety of prescription drugs including Alprazolam pills and Oxycodone pills. Marijuana was also found. In addition, there was an alligator, which was approximately three feet long, in a tank in the living room, which was taken away by animal control. Under health code 161.01, most people cannot possess wild animals without special permit.

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Lisa Marie Vellucci from the Trial Bureau Green Zone and supervised by Deputy District Attorney Dianne Malone, Chief of the Animal Cruelty Unit.

(via Bensonhurst Bean)

The helicopters hovering above Brooklyn Heights this morning signaled that something out of the ordinary was happening nearby. As many Brooklynites tweeted and news sources reported, traffic on the Manhattan bound side of the Brooklyn Bridge was halted due to a police action.

NY Post: The 19-year-old was threatening to jump from the Brooklyn-bound roadway around 7:20 a.m. when emergency workers responded to the call, said a spokesman for the FDNY.

All bridge traffic was shut down in both directions to pedestrians and cars, cops said.

The man jumped about 30 minutes later from the Brooklyn side of the bridge and landed in the rear of the River Cafe, police sources said.

A BHB reader adds his first hand account:

I was jogging this morning in Brooklyn Bridge Park and saw someone jump off the top of the Brooklyn Bridge. There were police boats, a helicopter and fire trucks everywhere and a team of first responders was trying to make its way up the cable to reach the person but they couldn’t get there in time. He was on the top of the suspension tower closest to Brooklyn.

After similar events earlier this year, we invited Brooklyn Heights resident Jason Hershberger, MD Chief of Psychiatry, Downstate Long Island College Hospital (LICH) to write a guest blog for BHB on depression and its warning signs. He wrote:

Suicide is the most frightening and dangerous symptom of depression. Eleven in 100,000 Americans die of suicide each year, making it the 10th leading cause of death in our country. For young people ages 15-24 suicide is the third leading cause of death. The major risk factor found in the majority of suicides is major depression followed by the combination of depression with alcoholism.

The Department of Psychiatry at Downstate Long Island College Hospital includes inpatient, outpatient and emergency psychiatric services. For physician referral please call (888) 270-SUNY(7869), or visit www.downstate.edu/LICH.

Image via Aimee Groth

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/52333

A BHB reader wrote us earlier today about a fatal incident at 75 Henry Street. Gothamist newsmap reports an incident at 8:30 this morning at Henry and Orange Street of a “jumper down DOA” and that NYPD was on the scene. No further information is available.

Fatal Jumper Down
BROOKLYN *FATAL JUMPER DOWN* @ APROX. 08:30 HOURS… HENRY ST. / ORANGE ST. PD O/S WITH A JUMPER DOWN DOA O/S. 11:26:23 AM *MNS-106/333* (C) [MNS346]
0830 Hours Henry St
Brooklyn, NY
10/27/2012 11:28 a.m.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/49912

The first five incidents occurred at 75 Henry St. between 4:30 A.M. and 6:00 A.M. on October 5, where the suspect allegedly gained entry to five apartments, each time being caught in the act by occupants.

Deciding to try his luck elsewhere, he moved south to 75 Livingston St., where surveillance footage shows him entering the lobby past a guard and boarding the elevator.  He attempted to hit two apartments in this building between 6:25 A.M. and 6:35 A.M., but was again thwarted.

No property was taken in any of the incidents.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/49201

Capt. J. D. Schiff, Commanding Officer for the 76th Precinct of Brooklyn, has alerted the CHB that on Saturday, September 15, the NYPD, NYC Council, Kings County District Attorney and NYPD Brooklyn Clergy Coalition will sponsor a program that pays cash for any operable firearm. They are offering a $200 bank card for a handgun and $20 bank card for a rifle/shotgun. He stresses: “No questions asked.”

The Brooklyn Gun Buy-Back Program takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Evergreen Baptist Church: 455 Evergreen Avenue, between Woodbine Street and Palmetto Street. No active or retired law enforcement weapons are accepted. The 76th Precinct is located at 191 Union Street in Brooklyn.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7812

The three thugs that robbed the Sovereign bank at 195 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights last Thursday should be shaking in their shoes about now. Another loser who struck the same branch in 2011 was sentenced to 26 years in prison Tuesday—for having the audacity to actually hit the same Sovereign twice. Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes delivered the verdict against Edward Pride, 49, according to multiple news reports. At his sentencing, Pride received 13 years for two counts of Robbery in the First Degree.

On February 11, 2011, Pride walked into the Sovereign Bank on Montague, and handed a bank teller a note: “No dye packs, no one has to get hurt.” He made a gesture as if he had a gun in his coat, and got away with $2,500. On Feb. 24, he returned to the branch, approached the same teller and netted $3,500. But the third time was hardly a charm for the galoot: On March 3, he walked into a Sovereign on Atlantic Avenue, a teller notified security, and he was busted. So much for foolish Pride. More like… just foolish.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/47096

Police are seeking three men suspected of hitting the Sovereign branch at 195 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights at about 10:20 a.m. last Thursday. The New York Post reports that one of the thugs barked at a teller, “Put all the money on the counter! No dye pack! And don’t make me use the gun!” The teller complied, and the robber stuffed a wad of bills into a bag as an accomplice served as lookout. The third then whipped out a black semiautomatic pistol from under a newspaper and yelled, “I don’t wanna shoot anyone!” All three then fled with an undisclosed amount of money. A pic of two of the bank robbers is here.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/46978

Are you kidding? This UPS truck parked on Montague Street Monday afternoon across from the AT&T store was adorned with not one, not two, but three parking tickets, each strategically placed so as not to overlap. I’ve never known a UPS truck to dawdle for so long that it merits this kind of overkill. Really? No, really? (Detailed pics below the jump)
(Photos: Chuck Taylor)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/46474

Crime has caved 78% in the 84th Precinct over the last two decades and 10% over the past year, according to the 84th Precinct Community Council—comprising the neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Boerum Hill, DUMBO and Vinegar Hill. An all-out celebration of safety was held Tuesday at Borough Hall for the 29th-annual “National Night Out Against Crime,” which builds relationships between cops and the communities they police.

Leslie Lewis, president of the 84th Precinct Council for 22 years, told the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, “We’re here to celebrate the success of the partnership between the community and the police. When this all started, it was too dangerous to walk around at night; nobody was on the streets. Now there are people on the streets, development everywhere. It’s a very different world. Because of the success of the partnership, developers started to spend money and encourage people to move here. It’s directly related.”

Cops from the 84th precinct grilled up hundreds of burgers and hotdogs at Tuesday’s celebration, with Deputy Inspector Mark Di Paolo serving as ringleader. He told the Eagle, “When it first began in 1984, this was a night where the community came out to feel safe, not victimized. Now, 29 years later, it’s more to celebrate how this partnership brought safety to the community.”

Crime is down 10% in the 84th Precinct overall this year, and down 5% in robberies, 22% in felony assault, and 60% in stolen cars.

Judy Stanton, executive director of the Brooklyn Heights Association, told the Brooklyn Daily Eagle that the 84th Precinct “is very responsive to local community needs as well as keeping a handle on the bigger issues in the precinct—terror targets, the bridge, etc. They give equal attention to big and little stuff.”

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/45411

NY1 veteran reporter Vivian Lee was attacked by a whacko woman in a white sheet in Cobble Hill Friday morning. DNAInfo.com explains that Lee was reporting on the death of Richard Schwartz, 61, who was killed after lightning struck a church steeple and sent debris tumbling to the street Thursday night.

A woman draped in a sheet climbed into an NY1 news van and began using Lee’s makeup and snacking on food, according to Lee and a witness. When the reporter told her to leave, the woman allegedly took a swing at Lee. “The van’s driver grabbed the woman and hauled her out of the van. As the three stood beside the van, the woman swung again, this time punching Lee in the neck. The driver wrestled the woman to the ground and held her until cops arrived and took her away,” DNAInfo says.

Lee was not seriously injured, and an ambulance was not called. (Photo: DNAInfo)

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7656

Several Heights residents who fell victim to a roofing repair scam contacted the Brooklyn Heights Association office to ask that BHB share their info so that others can avoid being similarly duped. BHA Executive Director Judy Stanton says the rogue plays the game like this: “A personable-looking man, dressed like a workman, rings the doorbell during the day and introduces himself as a contractor working on roofs nearby, where he noticed that your roof has problems that need fixing and he offers to make the needed repairs.”

He suggests going go up to your roof, where he will point out the ‘defects.’ He then negotiates a price to be paid as soon as the work is done. He’ll propose to do the work that day because he has the roofing materials close at hand. He may or may not say he needs to call a helper, depending on how receptive you appear to be. (Helpers add to the price.)

Everyone knows that there are scaffolds all over Brooklyn Heights, work goes on all the time on nearly every block, and several people I know have fallen for this scam, having paid money only to find out that no repairs were done, or they weren’t done properly. In one instance, valuables in the house were missing (cash, credit cards left out where they were visible on the way to and from the roof).

Note: The scammer is presentable, he counts on the fact that owners haven’t been to their roof lately and will take him at his word, or they may have experienced roof leaks during recent rains and welcome the plausible—and convenient—offer to repair it. Do we need to say more?

Please never let anyone you do not know into your house. Never, ever hire anyone to do work in your home without verifying their references and qualifications.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/42338

Local residents spotted a body floating in the East River below Brooklyn Heights Saturday morning. According to DNAInfo.com, rescuers responded to residents’ calls at 8:55 a.m. Saturday, and harbor crews from the NYPD recovered a body along the shoreline at Furman Street in the vicinity of Cranberry Street.

EMS responders at the scene attempted to resuscitate the man, who police said was in his 30s, but pronounced him dead at the scene. Police say it is unclear what led to the man’s death. They are conducting an investigation.

(Photo: DNAInfo.com)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/42022

Police have reported nine bike thefts in the past 60 days, Schiff says, compared to only three in March and February. Most occurred in apartment hallways where bikes were stored without locks. Rogues have also used tools to cut locks and swipe bikes from sidewalks.

The 76th Precinct offers bike registration, with an identifiable serial number to help owners protect property and help cops ID stolen bikes. Registration will be free at the Smith Street Fair June 24.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7296

Trader Joe’s on Atlantic Avenue at the border of Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill has reported five thefts over the past several months from unattended shopping carts.

Capt. Jeffrey Schiff, who commands the 76th Precinct, recently informed the community council that the store has no surveillance cameras installed in the crowded grocery, despite pleading with Trader Joe’s several times to install them. So far, the store has declined to cooperate with the recommended policy.

Read the full story at The Cobble Hill Blog here.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/41221

DNAinfo.com New York reports that thefts include cash from a bag deliberately set up in a police sting, as well as a cell phone from a woman’s purse, according to sources and court documents.

So far, the store has declined to cooperate with the recommended policy. “Trader Joe’s, since they’ve opened, haven’t seem too concerned with what’s going on inside the store,” a police source told DNA. “They seem to have the attitude of whatever happens, happens.”

To combat the rash of larcenies, the precinct has increased foot patrol in front of the store and implemented a series of sting operations. A spokesperson for Trader Joe’s confirmed that the store does not have surveillance cameras within the facility, according to DNA.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7238