Roosevelt Island Public Safety Reports For 12/31/08 - 1/13/09 - Mailbox Credit Card Theft, Robbery/Assault, Stuck in Subway Elevator & Egg Throwing

Image of stolen mail from AARP

During the January 7 RIRA Common Council Meeting it was disclosed that there is a problem on Roosevelt Island with new credit cards being stolen from building mail boxes. The problem is not limited to a particular building but one Octagon resident revealed:

... something very scary happened to my husband and I. Through mere accident, my husband became aware that a new credit card had been stolen from our mail. In only a few weeks, the thief has charged over $900 to the card. Upon contacting management to let them know this had happened to us, we were told that she had received several similar reports in recent weeks and that in fact this has been an ongoing problem throughout Roosevelt Island. We learned that these fraudulent acts are being perpetrated in all Roosevelt Island buildings! This thief is clever and slippery - he was able to ascertain enough of my husband's personal information through observing our mail and to call the credit card company and have the fraud alert lifted on two separate occasions! He was bold enough to use the credit card at locations throughout the island.

Having lived here since the building opened in 2006, we do remember the occasional murmur ... from other residents that had mail stolen from them. We did not, however, realize the how wide spread the problem continues to be....

Note I edited above statement to protect writers identity.

More Public Safety news - RIOC is posting the most current Daily and November Monthly Roosevelt Island Public Safety Incident reports on their web site. Also, available on the RIOC web site is a breakdown of Roosevelt Island Public Safety incidents by location and category for the month of November. Below are the Roosevelt Island Daily Public Safety Reports for December 31 - January 13 2009. Incidents included:

• Hazardous window condition at Roosevelt Landings/Eastwood (12/31)
• Robbery/Assault - Punch in face and lip (12/31, 1/1)
• Sale of Cigarettes without license (1/1)
• Criminal possession of controlled substance (1/3)
• Loud music together with possible smell of illegal substance(1/4)
• Criminal Mischief - egg throwing (1/6)
• Theft of Cab service (1/8, 9)
• 6 to 7 males urinating in hallway and (1/8)
  
• 4 persons stuck in subway elevator (1/10)
  

12/31/08-7:00 AM to 1/1/09-7:00 AM

Aided- Senior center Case worker hadn't seen a senior. UA and PSD responded. Tenant not home. later it was discovered he was in the Hospital.

Hazardous Condition- In Building window stoppers in some windows not in place causing the windows to be completely open. PSD and UA responded. Window Company personnel corrected the condition. no injuries.

Shop Lifting- Male subject took Misc. items from the Grestides Super Market and fled. PSD conducted a search for the subject with negative results. NYPD refused.

Aided- An ill person was taken to the Hospital by EMS.

Investigation- Unknown subjects placed debris under an apt door and fled. PSD conducted a search for the subject with negative results.

Robbery/Assault female tenant punched in the face and robbed of money by female subject. Victim taken to the Hospital by EMS. Subject arrested by PSD.

Aided- Female fell on the ground and injured her ankle. EMS transported her to the Hospital.

Assault- Female subject argued with a tenant over the use of the elevator then stuck victim in the lip. Victim sustained laceration to the lip. EMS refused. Search for the subject yielded negative results. NYPD refused.

0700 hrs 01/01/09 - 0700 hrs 01/02/09

Aided - Female twisted ankle falling off curb. Transported to hospital.

Assault - Male assaulted by female in elevator. PSD responded and made search with negative results.

Hazardous Condition - Leaking fire hydrant caused ice condition. Cone placed around ice. PSD called 311 for DEP to respond.

Lost Property - Woman reported to PSD that she lost watch on RIOC Bus or Tram. PSD checked with Tram and RIOC Bus with negative results.

Graffiti - Officer observed graffiti in hallway. Search was made with negative results. Management notified.

No Cigarette license - PSD and NYPD observed female knock on apt. door and exchanged currency for cigarettes. Tenant that answered door was issued summons by NYPD.

0700 hrs 01/02/09 - 0700 hrs 01/03/09

Petit Larceny- tenant came inside PSD to report someone removed her door mat search was made with negative result NYPD refused.

Arrest PSD officers observed male and female subject remained unlawfully with out authoriztion park in lot.Vehicle stop upon arrival observed box cutter and white substance on floor.Female summonses and released,male escorted for processing.

0700 hrs 01/03/09 - 0700 hrs 01/04/09

Criminal Poss. Control Substance- 3 Subjects arrested by PSD.

Defective Lock- At South Point Park. RIOC personnel Notified.

Investigation- RIOC Bus Coin Machine Damaged. Mini Bus Supervisor Notified.

Aided- Theft Store worker accidently locked in the Theft Store. Theft Store personnel notified and opened the door. Worker fine.

Unlawful Poss. of Marijuana/Trespass- 2 Subjects arrested by PSD.

0700 hrs 01/04/09 - 0700 hrs 01/05/09

Aided- An ill person was taken to the Hospital by EMS.

Hazardous Condition- A deep hole in the grass rear of a building. A cone was placed over the hole.

Noise Complaint- Loud Music. PSD responded and it was turned down. Also a smell of possible illegal Substance which was masked by Air freshener spray.

Property Damage- A sign was knocked down by Baseball Field. RIOC notified.

Property Damage- Dent on vehicle at the Motorgate Garage. 911 notified. But before NYPD responded the owner of the vehicle had left.

Verbal Dispute- Between 2 Island residents. No injuries. Female resident was escorted home. NYPD refused.

Broken Window- Vehicle at the Motorgate Garage. The owner was notified and stated it occurred off Island.

0700 hrs 01/05/09 - 0700 hrs 01/06/09

Criminal Mischief - Officer observed broken window on vehicle. Owner was notified and stated that damage happened off Island.

Aided - Male suffering from stomach pains. EMS responds and he is transported to the hospital.

Shoplifting - Store owner reports a male took a quart of milk. Upon arrival male was advised to stay out of store. Friend paid for item. Owner refused to pursue incident.

Lost Property - Female left property on a NYC Q102 bus. She was able to retrieve all of the property except a metro-card. She refused NYPD and will contact MTA.

Waterleak - Female left food to unthaw in sink and water overflowed. Tenant cleaned floor. Service responds to check for damages and there are none to report.

Unsecured Door - Officer observed door unsecured. Area checked and appeared in order. Door was secured.

Graffiti - Front of an apartment on the wall. Photo taken and Urban American service was notified.

Graffiti - In stairwell. Photo taken and Urban American service notified.

1/6/09-7:00 AM to 1/7/09/7:00 AM

Aided- Female fell. EMS responded but female refused transport to the Hospital.

Aided- Male in a wheelchair made contact with a vehicle. Male in wheelchair left. No damages to vehicle. EMS and NYPD refused.

Unsecured Vehicle- In the Motorgate Garage. No record of the owner as per Central Parking. PSD conducted periodic checks of the vehicle.

Aided- Male knocking on door to see female for insulin. But female not home. PSD responded and male refused EMS and stated he will see his own private doctor.

Criminal Mischief- Unknown subject threw eggs on an apt door and on the wall in the hallway. Search for the subject yielded negative results. UA notified.

1/7/09-7:00 AM to 1/8/09/7:00 AM

Trespass- Personal property found in the Motorgate Garage. PSD checked area and conducted search for the subject with negative results.

Lost Property- A Camera was left on a RIOC Bus and was returned to the owner.

Investigation- Report of possible illegal substance detectable in an apt. PSD responded and conducted a search for the source with negative results.

Verbal Dispute- Between two persons over money. PSD responded and one party stated he knew nothing. NYPD refused.

1/8/09-7:00 AM to 1/9/09/7:00 AM

Theft Of Service - Cab driver reports two subjects(male and female) ran out of cab without paying. PSD apprehended female subject. Victim didn't want to press charges but wanted fare to be paid. Female subject paid fare. Summons issued for harassment.

Unsecured Apt - PSD Officer observed patio door off hinges and on the ground. Search was made with negative results. Apt door was unlocked. Apt door was secured by Public Safety.

Investigation - Tenant reports two paint signs posted in building and unknown person wrote in ink references to Public Safety and NYPD CPOP. Search was conducted with negative results.

Verbal Dispute - PSD responded to dispute between two males. Male subject was knocking on apt door arguing over money. Subject was escorted out of building.

Criminal Mischief - Tenant reported to PSD that group of six to seven males hang out in hallway urinating on the floor. Tour supervisors were notified to do more checks of area.

Trespass/Disorderly Conduct - Male subject was issued summons for Trespass and Disorderly Conduct by PSD.

Criminal Mischief - PSD responded to report of broken window. Search was made with negative results. Super was notified.

Investigation - PSD Officer responded to apt for smell of illegal substance coming from bathroom vent. PSD Officer made check with negative results.

1/9/09-7:00 AM to 1/10/09/7:00 AM

Investigation- Tenant entered PSD to report two signs posted next to apartment door. Search made with negative results NYPD refused.

Unsecured Apartment- PSD officer observed the outer wooden gate to patio off the hinges laying on the patio ground.

Family Dispute- Mother reports daughter refused going to school and lock bathroom. PSD responded upon arrival request NYPD and EMS. Mother cut hand while banging door. Child went to school EMS refused.

Aided- PSD officer responded with EMS for possible aided. Upon arrival a female was complaining of stomach pain transported to hospital.

Aided- Officer responded to female apartment who appears incoherent EMS transported to hospital.

Theft of Service/ Harassment- Taxi driver reports to PSD officers two male subjects ran out without paying fare. Search made, one male was identified, and paid fare, summons and released for harassment.

1/10/09-7:00 AM to 1/11/09/7:00 AM

Smoke Condition- In a dryer in the Laundry Room. UA and PSD responded and it was extinguished. No injuries. Unknown damage to the dryer. UA to notify the laundry machine company.

Aided- At the Subway. 4 persons stuck in the elevator. FDNY removed them. They refused to provided information and EMS. PSD handled traffic until FDNY completed the job.

Found property- Blue purse with credit cards and money. Credit card company notified and contacted the owner. The owner retrieved the property.

Graffiti- In building. UA notified. Search for the subject yielded negative results.

Aided- Male on the icy sidewalk. He sustained injury to left knee and ankle and also had pain to chest (Asthmatic and did not have medication). EMS transported aided to the Hospital.

1/11/09-7:00 Am to 1/12/09-7:00 am

Property Damage- RIOC fence damaged underneath the 59th Street Bridge.
RIOC personnel notified.

Investigation- Suspicious male subject stated to a tenant that he was doing inspections in Eastwood. Upon PSD response male had left. Contact made with UA who confirmed no inspections being done. Search for male with negative results.

Aided- An ill person was taken to the Hospital by EMS.

Missing person (Child)- From group home. NYPD and PSD responded. Search conducted with negative results. Youth later returned to the group home.

1/12/09-7:00 AM to 1/13/09-7:00 AM

Criminal Poss Stolen/Petit Larceny/Criminal Trespass-At Grestides Supermarket. PSD arrested the subject.

Aided- Person complained heart beating too fast. EMS responded. Aided refused transport and will see her private doctor.

Aided- An ill person was taken to the Hospital by EMS.

Criminal Mischief- Hole in the wall. Search for the subject yielded negative results. UA notified