SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

Officials from the 61st Precinct told members of the Manhattan Beach Neighborhood Association that they’ve made an arrest in a rape incident in the community, in addition to ramping up efforts to battle the more common problems of speeders and thefts.

Sergeant Carter, the newly-appointed leader of the precinct’s community affairs unit, reported that they had charged a man for rape in the community. The incident occurred on Kensington Street, when an officer encountered a van with covered windows. They began an investigation of the vehicle and found a 16-year-old girl having intercourse with a 39-year-old man. The sex was consensual, but because of the age difference police arrested the man on the spot.

Keep reading about other incidents in the neighborhood, and what the police are doing to keep Manhattan Beach’s street safe.

We spotted this car on East 28th Street between Avenue Y and Avenue Z. Not only were all four tires missing, but the rims, brakes and even the axle was gone! We’re wondering if this car is a victim of theft and vandalism, or is it simply a “do it yourself” project? Considering the extent of the damage (the front bumper was in the back seat) we’re hoping it’s the latter.

Submitted by an anonymous reader

Hey there, hot stuff. Where you goin’ without your wheels? That’s right, nowhere.

This was spotted on Falmouth Street and Hampton Avenue  in Manhattan Beach last week. It’s a Nissan Maxima – just one of the cars on the list of automobiles being targeted for wheel and rim theft.

Other cars on that list include Infiniti, Cadillac Escalade, Lexus, Honda Accord, and Honda Civic. If you have a garage, use it!

The Manhattan Beach Community Group shot off a warning to members about an emerging crime wave. According to police reports in the past week at least three vehicles were broken into and the valuables stolen. The items taken included a GPS unit, a laptop, and cash. While police speculate the perpetrator could be someone with a drug problem, it could be anyone.

Listen up residents! It’s time to be aware. Don’t leave valuables in your car. Put it out of sight or bring it home with you. Keep an eye out and pay attention to your surroundings, but remember you’re not Batman! If you see something  or someone doing something suspicious, dial 911 and wait for help!

Captain Steven Ventura of the Sea Queen VII struck back against an aspiring thief Saturday night, foiling the plans of a knife-wielding dunce.

According to the NY Post, Ventura was off the coast of Coney Island around 11:20 p.m. with 15 passengers when he noticed the sinkers from his fishing lines vanishing. When he spotted the culprit, a fight ensued in which the thief, Joseph Neuer, brandished a knife. Ventura avoided injury as he slugged the would-be robber, and passengers and crew bound him with duct tape. When they docked at the Sheepshead Bay marina, police arrested the felon and charged him with third-degree assault, menacing, harassment, and petit larceny.

From the NY Post: Continue Reading »

ABC Local Eyewitness News reports that the Just In Time Pharmacy on Knapp Street, along with a number of other stores in Brooklyn and Queens, was robbed twice by a pair of gun-wielding thugs.

The robberies occurred on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 and Saturday, May 30, 2009. In both incidents, the robbers entered the store and forced the workers to hand over cash and drugs held in storage. Frightened employees followed the instructions of the gun-wielding thieves and violence was avoided both times.

One of the supervising pharmacists told us:

In the first incident, all the workers were here in the store. They [the thieves] walked into the door 20 minutes after the store had opened up. One guy remained in the front, and a customer was right behind them. One of the guys stood right next to the customer. The other guy walked directly up to the front and put a gun to the cashier and told her not to panic and give him everything that he wants. He said that we won’t get hurt.

In the second incident, I wasn’t there, but thieves were a lot more aggressive than the first time and put the workers on the floor, then said, “you know the procedure”. That’s how we knew they were the same guys as before. They were mainly interested in the narcotics.

Since the incidents have occurred, this Sheepshead Bay community-minded pharmacy has taken extra measures to ensure the safety of their employees and customers.

Their video system installed captured the two robbers, but was not a deterrent to their second crime, so store owners have added a buzzer system and bulletproof glass. You can see video of the thieves robbing another store on the Eyewitness News website.

Let’s hope that customers are not deterred from entering the store, now that they have to ring a bell. This full-service pharmacy has been operating six days a week since 2004, providing customers with their medications, blood pressure checks, and everything else you need in a local drug store.

So if you find yourself at the crossroad where Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach, and Sheepshead Bay meet, stop in and show them your support.

Just In Time Pharmacy
2126 Knapp Street
Brooklyn, NY 11229
located between Ave U & Ave V
(718) 332-5474
Open from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. everyday, except Sunday