Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Man Preys on Nightclub Patrons, Snatching Gold Crucifix and Phones: Police

 A 52-year-old man pickpocketed four people at Cielo in the Meatpacking District, police said.
A 52-year-old man pickpocketed four people at Cielo in the Meatpacking District, police said.
View Full Caption
Facebook/Cielo

MEATPACKING DISTRICT — A 52-year-old man pickpocketed at least four different people at a trendy nightclub last week, police said.

The man targeted victims — a 43-year-old woman, a 51-year-old woman, a 29-year-old woman, and a 44-year-old woman —  inside Cielo at 18 Little West 12th St. just after midnight on June 11, police said.

The first victim told officers that the man, wearing a turquoise tank top and turquoise sneakers, grabbed at her bag. When she turned to check what was happening, she discovered her bag was open and her iPhone was missing, police said.

The second victim told officers that she remembered the man bumping into her. Later, she realized that her car keys and $600 14-carat gold crucifix necklace were missing, authorities said.

The third victim told officers that her wallet went missing, and the fourth said she felt the man take her iPhone from her back pocket, police said.

A 40-year-old man in the club also told the arresting officer that the man jostled him twice, brushing up against him with his hands near the 40-year-old's pockets, police said.

The 52-year-old man was arrested and charged with multiple counts of grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, and five counts of jostling.

Police said the arresting officer found three phones — a Samsung Note 4 in a pink and white case, valued at $750, an iPhone 6 in a pink and grey case valued at $600, and another iPhone valued at $750 — on the 52-year-old man, as well as the third victim's black “Obey” wallet with her New York state ID, two Visa credit cards and $40 cash.

The officer also found the second victim's crucifix and car keys in the man's pocket, police said.

The man's haul totaled more than $2,740, police said.

Police said the man told the officer, “I found that s*** on the floor" and "I gave the lady her phone. She buggin’.”

His attorney did not immediately respond to request for comment. He's being held at Riker's Island on $5,000 cash/$15,000 bond bail. He's due back in court on July 22.

Representatives for Cielo did not immediately return a request for comment.