FORT GREENE — An officer at the NYPD's 75th Precinct left his loaded service weapon, uniform, badge and bulletproof vest in a suitcase in the trunk of his car last Friday night — and came back to find it had been stolen, according to authorities.
NYPD Officer Joseph Caravella parked his 1990 Toyota Camry outside 483 Clermont St. at 4 p.m. on Oct. 16, and returned to his car more than six hours later to find the suitcase full of official gear missing, including his loaded SIG Sauer P226 automatic 9 mm pistol and two 9 mm magazines, according to Det. Frank Liuzzi, the officer investigating the crime.
Officials scrambled to run DNA tests on the vehicle and used it to track down Donald Roberts, 43, in the Farragut Houses two days after the robbery, according to law enforcement sources.
Roberts admitted to investigators he popped the car's trunk, pulled out the suitcase, brought it down the block and opened it to find the trove of NYPD gear, Liuzzi said in an affidavit.
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Roberts — who had prior arrests for petit larceny and other charges — stashed the officer's bulletproof vest and shield in his bedroom, brought the gun belt into his car, a 2005 BMW, according to law enforcement sources.
He'd taken Caravella's gun to 701 Willoughby Avenue in Bed-Stuy, where investigators found it hidden inside a plastic bag, authorities said.
Roberts was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and unlawful use of a police uniform, among other offenses.
Roberts' lawyer at Legal Aid could not be reached for comment.
The NYPD did not immediately respond to calls for comment.
Sources said that officers are required to safeguard their weapons and equipment at all times and that leaving it in the trunk of their vehicle is not considered a safe option. Offenders could face departmental charges of up to two weeks docked vacation, they said.
Officers from the 75th Precinct recently came under fire by NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton after losing an inmate in their custody last Tuesday.
