FINANCIAL DISTRICT — A man attacked for his wallet and backpack managed to chase down the thief and wrestle him to the ground inside the Bowling Green 4/5 train station, police said.
The 36-year-old Financial District resident told police he was randomly punched in the back as he stood at Beaver Street and Broadway at about 9:20 p.m on June 15. He quickly turned around, realizing his wallet and backpack, which had been on the ground next to him, were missing.
The victim saw his attacker fleeing into the Bowling Green subway station, and he ran after him, police said. On the platform, the men began to tussle over the bag, falling to the ground. Police in the station arrested alleged thief, 45-year-old Albert Sides, and charged him with robbery.
Information about Sides' attorney was not immediately available.
Other incidents in this week's 1st Precinct crime blotter include:
► The Hat Club, a designer sports cap shop in SoHo, was burglarized twice in one week, losing a total of $817 in cash, police said.
Police responded to an alarm sounded at the 103 Mercer St. shop on June 12 at 2 a.m. to find a door ajar, the door jamb smashed and $367 in cash missing from the register.
Just two days later, on June 14, at 3 a.m., police were once again called to the shop, and found the lower half of the door broken off, police said. The shop’s owner said $450 was stolen from the register that time.
Based on video surveillance, police believe it was the same burglar who hit the store twice. The store did not immediately return a request for comment.
► A thief stole $5,150 worth of tools and equipment from a construction site at 194 Broadway, police said. All the items, including a $1,500 welding machine, hammers, grinders and saws, were in an $800 tool box. Police said the box was sitting on the sidewalk when someone grabbed it at some point between June 2 and June 4.
► A man stole $1,500 worth of copper cable from 80 Chambers St., a building undergoing construction. A witness observed the thief cutting the 5-foot-long wire, which weighed 30 pounds, into pieces on June 11 at 5 a.m. The witness called out to the man, and the burglar then placed the wire into a folding cart and fled, police said.
