Police Blotter: Police Catch 13-Year-Old Trying to Steal Cell Phone from Pedestrian

Crime is up 52 percent this week in the 79^th Precinct (38 incidents versus 25 incidents), for the week of April 30 through May 6, compared to this same time last year. For the month, crime is up 32 percent (165 incidents versus 125 incidents), compared to this same 28-day period in 2011. Year to date, crime is up 21 percent (617 incidents versus 509 incidents), compared to this same time period in 2011.

Bodega Robbed:

On Tuesday, May 8, at approximately 10:02 p.m., a bodega on Bedford Street was burglarized. According to police, Javier Grocery, located at 1091 Bedford Avenue at the corner of Quincy Street, was robbed after one of the young employees gave keys to the store to one of the suspects. One of the suspects, identified as Luz Hernandez entered the store through the front door with two other suspects, after the store had closed. The perpetrators stole several packs of cigarettes, cases of soda, phone cards and headphones—items valued at approximately $4,700. Police were called to the scene the next day, and the investigation is ongoing.

Attempted Cell Phone Robbery:

On Tuesday, May 8, at approximately 8:10 p.m., a 38-year-old woman fought off an attempted robbery of her cell phone while on her way to the subway station. According to reports, the woman was walking on Myrtle Avenue towards a subway station when the suspect, identified as Javon Jones, 13, lunged at her and attempted to grab her phone from her hands. The a nearby officer witnessed the woman struggling with the suspect and intercepted, at which time the suspect fled towards Nostrand Avenue. The officer caught up with him and was arrested.

Purse Snatching:

On Wednesday, May 9, at approximately 2:25 a.m., a woman was robbed while walking down Saint Andrews Place. According to police, the victim was walking with a friend down Saint Andrews place when they were approached from behind by someone who displayed a silver revolver and mumbled something they could not understand. The suspect then hit the woman on the right side of her face with the gun, took her purse containing a passport and bankcard, and then fled northbound on St. Andrews towards Herkimer. The woman was visiting from Canada. Police conducted a canvass of the area with no results. The investigation is ongoing.

Home Invasion/Attempted Burglary:

On Friday, May 11, at approximately 5:50pm, a woman’s house was burglarized on Greene Avenue. According to police, the woman stepped out of her home at around 5:50 p.m. for about 30 minutes. When she returned, she witnessed a man, identified as John Nixon, 75, leaving her house with $25,000 worth of property, including jewelry, her pocketbook, a camera, a laptop, a radio, television and several items of clothing. The man had forced entry into her home. Police were called to the scene and arrested the suspect.