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Man Steals Phone After Woman Refuses to Donate to Basketball Group: NYPD

By Alexandra Leon | February 8, 2017 2:49pm
 A man tried to steal a woman's cellphone in the DeKalb Avenue station last week after she refused to donate to his basketball organization, police said.
A man tried to steal a woman's cellphone in the DeKalb Avenue station last week after she refused to donate to his basketball organization, police said.
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BROOKLYN — A man with a history of violent run-ins snatched a woman's cellphone after she refused to donate to his basketball organization, the NYPD said.

The 44-year-old victim was waiting for a southbound train at the DeKalb Avenue subway station in Downtown Brooklyn around 3:45 p.m. on Feb. 2 when Devante Ware, 24, approached and asked her to sign a petition and donate to his hoops group, a police report said. 

When the woman declined, Ware tried to snatch her iPhone 7 from her hand, but it dropped to the ground and broke, police and prosecutors said. 

He then flung a plastic sign at the woman and fled the scene, prosecutors said. 

Police were able to catch up with Ware, who was arrested and charged with criminal possession of stolen property, menacing, grand larceny, harassment, robbery, petit larceny, criminal mischief and criminal possession of a weapon, the Brooklyn District Attorney's office said.  

He was released on $3,500 bond and is scheduled to next appear in court on Feb. 8, court records show.

Less than a year ago, on May 21, 2016, Ware was arrested for punching and trying to strangle a woman inside a Prospect Park South apartment, prosecutors said. He was charged with assault, criminal obstruction of breathing, criminal possession of marijuana and resisting arrest.

Then, on Sept. 21, Ware was arrested for disorderly conduct after getting into a fight on a Prospect Park South street, prosecutors said.

He's due back in court for that incident on Feb. 23.

His attorney was not immediately available for comment.

Other crimes from the 84th Precinct include: 

► A thief stole 18 hats and six wallets worth a total of $220 from a shop at 133 Lawrence St. at 12:55 a.m. on Jan. 30, police said. A store employee could not be reached for comment.

► A man stole $4,000 from the Chase Bank at 101 Court St. after slipping the teller a note at 3:07 p.m. on Jan. 30, police said. A bank representative could not be reached for comment.

► A 25-year-old woman was waiting for a southbound F train at the York Street station at 12:10 p.m. on Feb. 3 when a man started using vulgar language towards her and told her he would cut her, police said. The man approached her and made a slashing motion towards her face, but took off when she ran away and tried to seek help from other commuters.

► A burglar stole $3,090 worth of electronics and $200 in cash from Betty Bakery at 445 Atlantic Ave. at midnight on Feb. 5, police said. A store employee declined to comment on the burglary.