Car-jacker busted on birthday
Nathan Butler apparently wanted to live it up on his birthday, but ended up stewing in a holding cell.
The area resident, who turned 18 on January 12, was taken into custody that Tuesday for allegedly carjacking a motorist near the corner of Foster and Ralph avenues, police said.
The victim told police that he was sitting in his car at 4:50 a.m. when Butler allegedly yanked open the driver’s side door.
He then allegedly pulled the victim out of the car by his jacket, shouting, “Give me the f–king car!”
Police said that the startled victim ran off, but soon regained his composure and returned, finding Butler allegedly sitting behind the wheel.
Butler saw the victim and chased after him, alleged police. But by then cops were on the way, taking the birthday boy into custody for robbery in the first degree, grand larceny, unauthorized use of a vehicle and criminal possession of stolen property.
Gas goons
We don’t know what’s more interesting — that neighborhood gas stations keep getting robbed or that cops keep arresting the would-be perpetrators.
Police announced last week that they arrested yet another alleged gas station robber — the second in two weeks.
Officials allege that 21-year-old Malcolm Buckner and two accomplices held up two cab drivers and two gas station attendants at the Eagle Gas station on Flatlands Avenue near East 106th Street back on December 14.
The thieves reportedly pulled guns on the victims, rounded them all up in a station bathroom and ran off with over $1800 in loot.
After nearly a month-long investigation, cops arrested Buckner on January 11 after a witness identified him in a photo array, according to published reports.
A few days earlier, cops arrested 23-year-old Damien Benson for allegedly robbing the Gulf Station at 10804 Flatlands Avenue back in January 2009.
Benson allegedly pulled a gun on a worker and demanded that he empty the contents of the cash register into a garbage bag — the same MO used in a more recent heist at the same gas station on New Year’s Eve.
Cops had not connected Benson to the New Year’s Eve heist as this paper went to press.
Purse snatcher search
Three purse snatchings in close proximity to each other have police wondering if the same person is responsible for the thefts — all of which took place a day apart.
Police said that three women, the oldest 43, the youngest 20, were attacked in the East 50s between Glenwood and Farragut Roads within days of each other starting on January 4.
In two of the incidents, two thieves were seen, officials said. A single perpetrator was responsible for the third.
Officials said that the 43-year-old woman was walking down Glenwood Road near East 59th Street at 7 p.m. on January 4 when two black males grabbed her and threw her to the ground.
The suspects scooped up their purse and ran off, officials said.
The next night, a 20-year-old woman was jumped on Farragut Road near East 57th Street. The woman said that the thief crept up behind her at about 11 p.m., put her in a choke hold and demanded her property.
When the woman gave up her bag, the thief grabbed it and ran off.
The third theft took place roughly 24 hours later, said police. At 10:20 p.m., a 37-year-old woman was grabbed and thrown to the ground by two thieves. The thieves ran off with her purse as well — this one containing credit cards and $135, officials said.
Cops have yet to connect the three thefts to a single crew.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to come forward.
Calls can be made to the 63rd Precinct at (718) 258-4411. All calls will be kept confidential.
Robbed in parking lot
Cops are searching for two gun-toting goons who robbed a 27-year-old woman in the parking lot of a neighborhood AutoZone.
The young woman told police that she was walking through the parking lot at 2:40 a.m. on January 8 when the two suspects approached with a silver handgun in their grasp.
“Give me everything you got,” one of the men demanded as they took the woman’s keys and credit cards from her.
The thieves ran off, leaving the woman unharmed, officials said.
Two shot
Two young men were hospitalized following a shooting near the corner of East 96th Street and Avenue J Monday, police said.
Officials said that the victims were near the corner at 9 p.m. on January 11 when the unidentified gunman opened fire.
Both victims suffered minor injuries, police said.
The gunman remained at large as this paper went to press.
Anyone with information regarding this incident to come forward.
Calls can be made to the NYPD CrimeStoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.