Con Game Hits Queens

A new con game has been brought to our attention via a complaint report (made on April 4, 2006), so we would like to let the community know to be on the lookout for a potential telephone call stating the person being called has won money. Once convinced, the "winner" is informed that they must send in a certain amount of money (in this case, $2,800) to retrieve the money right away. The "winner" sends the money, but never receives anything in return.

114th Police Precinct Monday, April 3:

+A 33-year-old Hispanic male was seen traveling westbound on Northern Boulevard at 62nd Street with an object hanging from the rearview mirror of the vehicle obstructing the view. Upon car stop, a DMV check revealed the defendant to be operating the vehicle with a suspended license. The defendant was charged with aggravated unlicensed operator, equipment violation and unlicensed operator.

+A 28-year-old Hispanic female at 30th Avenue and Crescent Street was charged with criminal possession of stolen property and petit larceny inside 18-33 27th Ave. The complainant stated he dropped $325 on the floor at the location, and a witness observed the defendant pick up the money from the floor. The defendant did exit the location despite the complainant's attempts to stop her. Acanvass was conducted with positive results and found the defendant to have $190 in her possession. Tuesday, April 4: +At 8-10 27th Ave. a 19-year-old white male

did punch and push the victim to the ground, took his cell phone without permission or authority, damaged his furniture and pushed/kicked holes in the walls of his apartment. The responding officers conducted a canvass when the defendant was observed exiting the lobby door. When the defendant was being taken into custody the defendant did swing his arms and kick at the police officers, refusing to be handcuffed. Further investigation revealed the defendant was wanted on a prior complaint. The defendant was charged with robbery, criminal mischief, and assault with the intent to cause physical injury, resisting arrest and harassment.

+A 38-year-old, male Hispanic was seen traveling northbound on 29th Street at 30th Drive in a red Mercury that had a broken red brake light. Upon car stop, a DMV check revealed the defendant to be operating a vehicle with a suspended license due to the failure to pay a fine and was charged with aggravated unlicensed operator, equipment violation, and unlicensed operator.

+A 54-year-old black male did slap the complainant on the left side of the face with an open hand and kick her on her left knee causing the victim sustained substantial pain. The incident occurred at 32-35 58th St. where the defendant was charged with the intent to cause physical injury and harassment.

+A white male, 26 years of age, was observed traveling in a Honda Civic with a broken brake light at 49th Street and Astoria Boulevard and a car stop was conducted. Upon approach, marijuana was in plain view and the defendant was charged with criminal possession of marijuana and inadequate/no stop lamps on the vehicle.

+A 29-year-old Asian male and a 26-year-old white male were found to be in possession of marijuana in public view and were placed under arrest. The defendants were charged with criminal possession of marijuana. Wednesday, April 5:

+A 21-year-old white male was observed pulling on cellar gates in a burglary prone location at 23rd Street and Ditmars Boulevard. Upon further investigation, defendant was found to be in possession of a gravity knife and charged with criminal possession of a weapon.

+A 27-year-old white male was observed traveling in a 1997 Toyota while using a cell phone at Hoyt Avenue North and 28th Street. Upon car stop, a DMV check revealed the defendant to be operating a vehicle with a suspended license.

+A Hispanic 26-year-old male was observed urinating at 34th Street and Astoria Boulevard and then proceeded to shake his genitals in public view. The defendant was charged with violation of local law and disorderly conduct. Thursday, April 6:

+A black 28-year-old male was observed at Northern Boulevard and 33rd Street operating a black Saturn while not wearing a seatbelt. A car stop was conducted but the defendant refused to remain in his vehicle. The defendant approached the police officer's vehicle on the street side, blocking a lane of eastbound traffic on Northern Boulevard. The officers told the defendant numerous times to return to vehicle and wait inside but defendant refused every time. The defendant was placed under arrest and charged with disorderly conduct and failure to obey a police officer.

+At 20-33 Steinway St. a 16-year-old Hispanic male was charged with assaulting and harassing the complainant causing physical injury. The victim states the defendant did punch her in the back and scratch her on the left hand sustaining a small laceration and substantial pain.

+A 49-year-old, black male defendant was observed traveling in a 1989 Chevrolet and making an illegal left turn on 34th Avenue and Crescent Street at approximately 5:30 p.m. There are signs posted at that intersection which state, "No Left Turn Between The Hours Of 4-7 p.m." Acar stop was conducted at which time the defendant was unable to produce a valid NYS driver's license. Upon further investigation, a DMV check revealed the defendant's license status to be suspended. The defendant was charged with aggravated unlicensed operator and failure to obey a traffic device.

+A 33-year-old Hispanic female was observed operating a vehicle without properly signaling at 49th Street and 28th Avenue. A car stop was conducted and a DMV check revealed the defendant to be operating a vehicle with a suspended license. She was charged with aggravated unlicensed operator and illegal signal. Friday, April 7:

+A 28-year-old female of unknown ethnicity did enter a store at 34-51 48th St. A security officer stated the defendant removed property. The defendant was seen on video-surveillance cameras conducting these actions and did not have permission or authority to do so, and was charged with petit larceny.

+A complainant stated four males at 49-11 Broadway sprayed him with an unknown chemical in the face. The four defendants proceeded to threaten the complainant with broomsticks while demanding his wallet. The complainant complied and afterward called 911. A description provided by the victim resulted in two persons, a 21-year-old female and 19-year-old male, both white, matching the victim's description being found with the victim confirming their identity. They were charged with robbery, menacing and criminal possession of a weapon.

+A 40-year-old black male, at 41-09 12th St. entered a fenced construction site without permission or authority to do so, removing property from the location. The defendant was charged with burglary, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of stolen property. Saturday, April 8:

+A 41-year old Hispanic male defendant was observed traveling at 32-26 Steinway St. in a Nissan sedan with a defective brake light. Upon car stop, defendant was observed to have blood shot eyes and a strong odor of alcohol emanated from his breath. The officer observed an empty bottle of Heineken and a half full bottle of tequila inside the vehicle in plain view. Defendant was removed from vehicle and taken for a breathalyzer test. Upon failing the breathalyzer test he was charged with DWI, violation of local law and inadequate/no stop lamps

+Asecurity guard from a store located at 50-01 Northern Blvd. observed a 37-year-old white male enter the store, remove a set of walkietalkies from the shelf and run out of the store past all points of sale. The defendant did not have permission or authority to do so and was stopped outside of store. He was charged with criminal possession of stolen property and petit larceny.

+Three Hispanic males, ages 26, 27 and 37, were observed to be present on fenced in New York City park property at 27th Street and 37th Avenue. Signs are posted at the park entrance that clearly state the park closes at 9 p.m. They were charged with criminal trespass.

+Three Hispanic defendants, ages 21, 24 and 39, did knowingly enter and remain at the premises located at 28th Street and 37th Avenue without permission or authority to do so, and were charged with criminal trespass. Sunday, April 9:

+A 25-year-old white male was charged with reckless endangerment, menacing, criminal possession of a weapon, resisting arrest and harassment. The complainant states she observed the defendant grabbing his girlfriend by the throat at 25-38 43rd St. and tried to intervene. At that point, the defendant picked up a knife and threatened the complainant who left the location and called 911.

+An 18-year-old Hispanic male did enter a building located at 20-76 19 St. attempting to enter an apartment by breaking down the door (causing damage exceeding $250). The defendant then attempted to enter via the fire escape by cutting a window screen. The defendant fled through the roof [exit] and was apprehended by police. At that time, the defendant resisted arrest by swinging his arms at the arresting officer. He was charged with burglary, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, resisting arrest and violation of local law.

+Three males, a white, 20-year-old (No. 1), and two Hispanics ages 19 (No. 2) and 15 (No. 3), were found at 34th Street and 36th Avenue inside a marked New York City police vehicle which was locked by the police officers who were responding to a call. Defendant No. 3 was outside of the vehicle and whistled at the site of the returning officers. Defendants No. 1 and 2 were apprehended upon attempting to exit the police vehicle. Defendant No. 3 fled the location, a foot pursuit took place and the defendant was apprehended. The vehicle sustained damage, a deep scratch to the lock area of the trunk and a radiation detector worth approximately $1,000 was found on the passenger floor. Upon further investigation, defendant No. 1 was found to be in possession of a multi-lock key with do not duplicate on back of said key. All the defendants were charged with criminal mischief-2nd and 3rd degree, two counts of grand larceny. Monday, April 10:

+A 23-year-old male Asian defendant was observed operating a Honda Accord when he failed to signal upon making a turn at Hoyt Avenue South and Crescent Street. Acar stop was conducted and a DMV license check revealed the defendant to be operating a vehicle with a suspended license. He was charged with aggravated unlicensed operator and failure to signal.

+A 54-year-old male Hispanic, at 31-09 Broadway was observed inside of his vehicle that was emanating loud music at an unreasonable level. Upon approach, the defendant was found sleeping behind the wheel while the key was in the ignition with the engine running. Further investigation revealed that the defendant had blood-shot eyes, slurred speech, a strong odor of alcohol and an impaired sense of balance. Defendant was removed from vehicle and taken for a breathalyzer test. The defendant was charged with DWI and disorderly conduct.