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Animal Rescue Volunteer Has Bag Stolen at Pet Shop, Police Say

By Mathew Katz | July 25, 2014 7:13am
 Puppies play in the front window of Citipups.
Puppies play in the front window of Citipups.
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DNAinfo/Mathew Katz

CHELSEA — A man volunteering for an animal rescue had his iPad, camera and backpack stolen while trying to find a new home for rescued dogs at a Chelsea pet store, police said.

The man, 47, was volunteering with Earth Angels Canine Rescue on July 14. The rescue regularly sets up shop at Citipups at 147 Eighth Ave., where's it's helped more than 700 animals in need find homes, Citipups' co-owner Nester Wright said.

According to police and Wright, a man came into the store at about 8 p.m. that day and swiped the victim's bag while he helped prospective pet owners look at pups.

"[The thief] had an empty Duane Reade shopping bag and he swapped it for the backpack before he left," Wright said. "It looked like it was planned. He came in to steal whatever he could."

According to police, the thief got away with the man's $350 iPad mini, a $250 Nikon Cool Pix camera and the $10 backpack.

Wright said the alleged thief was tall, and looked like he was in his 30s.

Other recent crimes in the 10th Precinct include:

► An irate cabbie threw a cup of urine at a 56-year-old fellow taxi driver near the northwest corner of West 16th Street and Ninth Avenue at 1:16 a.m. on Saturday, police said. There was no information about what sparked the attack.

► A man's $2,100 pair of Berluti shoes were stolen while he showered at Chelsea Piers, police said.

According to police, the 73-year-old had finished working out and locked all of his belongings except the pricey shoes in a locker at about 3 p.m. on July 15. He took a quick rinse, and when he returned, the shoes were gone.

Police did not have information about a suspect.

► A man was attacked by an umbrella-wielding stranger near the corner of West 26th Street and Eighth Avenue on the morning of July 15.  

According to police, the 64-year-old victim was walking down the sidewalk at about 7:20 a.m. when he was approached by another man, who asked him a question. When the victim continued walking, the attacker pushed and shoved him, then poked him hard with the umbrella, cutting his left elbow, the NYPD said.

The victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was treated for the cut as well as pain to his left leg, police said.

Police are looking for the attacker, who is described as 50 years old, 5-foot-7, weighing about 160 pounds, with short, close-cut hair.

► A taxi driver's season pass to Six Flags, along with his driver's license, cash and more, were stolen when he went on a lunch break, police said.

According to police, the cabbie, 56, parked his vehicle on 10th Avenue near West 27th Street at about noon on July 15, and went to grab lunch at a nearby deli.

When he returned, he realized that his rear driver side window was open, and a backpack sitting on his front passenger seat was gone, police said.

Along with the bag, which had the theme park pass and his driver's license, the thief also took the cabbie's E-ZPass and $250 in cash, police said.