WASHINGTON HEIGHTS – Supers, beware! Police are searching for a man they say has stolen more than $3,000 in tools – such as saws, drills and hammers – from four local building sites within the past month.
The man, who official sources said usually entered through the basement area, first struck on Dec. 14 at approximately 7 p.m. near St. Nicholas Ave. and Amsterdam near the 171st Street area. Police said he stole approximately $780 worth of tools and then fled the scene.
Although police didn’t have specific information as to what was stolen, official sources confirmed the suspect usually got away with saws, drills and other items usually found in a building superintendent’s tool shed.
The suspect struck again a week later at 5:50 a.m. near the same area on Fort Washington Avenue and St. Nicholas Ave. This time, however, the suspect broke the lock of a video room and removed approximately $150 worth of tools, police said.
A few days later – at approximately 9 a.m. on Dec. 24 – police said the man used an unknown object to cut the slide lock leading to the basement of an apartment building near Fort Washington Avenue and St. Nicholas Avenue. He then fled the scene toward 171st Street with $1,650 worth of tools.
On Jan. 5 at approximately 5 p.m. the man again used an unknown object to break the lock of a tool room within the Haven Avenue and Broadway area around 170th Street, police said. The man, according to police, left this time with $1,128 worth of tools.
Police said they still haven’t identified the man, who is described as about 30 years old, approximately 5-foot-10 and with a medium build. He was last seen wearing a green coat, blue jeans and a black hat.
Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS or for Spanish 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or texting their tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
