WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — Police are hunting for an agile burglar wanted in a spree of thefts that have plagued a block in upper Manhattan on one night in March.
The NYPD released a video Saturday of the alleged burglar, in which the suspect is seen clambering down a fire escape at 704 West 180th St., on March 15, and dangling from the bottom ladder before dropping to the sidewalk and loping away with a heavy-looking duffel bag.
All of the burglarized homes were apartments in a row of buildings along West 180th Street that share a common alleyway in the rear of the building, police said. The spree occurred during a five-hour time span on March 15 and 16.
On March 15, between 8:15 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. victims reported that the burglar hit three apartment units in 706, 700 and 704 West 180th St., entering variously through a unit's front door, then a bedroom window and a rear window via the fire escape, police said. The thief removed various property in most of the break-ins, police said.
The final burglary was discovered at 12:36 a.m. on March 16, when the victim found property missing after the burglar accessed the home from a living room window that faced a fire escape, police said.
Police are asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or to submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or to text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
