DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — A thief who swiped a 14-year-old girl’s cellphone called the girl’s mother and demanded a ransom in exchange for the phone’s safe return, according to police.
The girl was sitting on a park bench on the northeast corner of Flatbush Avenue Extension and Tillary Street around 3:50 p.m. on Jan. 7 when the suspect snatched the Samsung S5, the NYPD said.
The thief later called the girl’s 38-year-old mother to demand payment in exchange for the phone, which is worth $525, according to police.
Police did not say how much money the thief requested.
A description of the suspect was not released. No arrests have been made.
Other notable crimes from the 84th and 88th precincts include:
► A 28-year-old woman was arrested for taking more than $1,000 in merchandise from the Downtown Brooklyn Macy’s by hiding it in her baby stroller around 2:45 p.m. on Jan. 13. Police say 28-year-old Janki Devi took jewelry, sheets, socks, bras, gloves, pants, hats, a top, a pot, a towel, baby clothes and a belt. Devi was charged with petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. Her case will be dismissed in six months if she remains on good behavior, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office.
► A 41-year-old man was walking through Bridge Park to get to the York Street station around 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 13 when he was approached by four men who demanded his cellphone. The men took the phone from his hand and a struggle ensued as they tried to grab his bag. The suspects eventually took off towards Sands Street with the phone. Police arrested 20-year-old Dontre Bradley, who was charged with robbery, petit larceny, criminal possession of a stolen weapon and marijuana possession.
► A 42-year-old woman was at the Brooklyn Heights Library at 280 Cadman Plaza West on Jan. 14 when she noticed her backpack was missing. The woman told police she had her backpack between her legs while she was there, between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. The woman told police a man had been walking back and forth to the table where she was sitting, and when she left, the yellow backpack — containing a blue wallet, credit cards, keys, a driver’s license and cash — was missing.
