Froyo Robber Caught, Apologizes

A man wanted for robbing 12 businesses through out Manhattan and Brooklyn, including the Tasti-D-Lite on 7th Ave near 9th Street, has been caught, and is REALLY REALLY SORRY. 47 year-old Robert Coston was arrested on Friday after a tipster reported him to Crimestoppers. He's currently charged with 10 counts of robbery in the first degree.

"My sons are in college," Coston told reporters after his arrest. "I was looking for work. I couldn’t find work. I’m very sorry for what I did, though."

The owner of the Tasti-D-Light that Coston allegedly robbed described him as "calm and apologetic" during the incidents. So there's that.

[Via Gothamist]

Beware Robbers Dressed as Pizza Delivery Dudes

Not actual robber, but he was kind of a dick in Home Alone.Man, you think you're doing a favor when holding the door open for a delivery man or woman carrying a stack of piping hot pizzas into your building. You never think that by letting this messenger of cheesy goodness into your vestibule that they just might rob your ass.

Via the Brooklyn Paper Police Blotter:

A knife-wielding thug masquerading as a pizza deliveryman robbed a woman on Seventh Street on Dec. 24 — but was arrested following a bungled getaway.

The thief, who was carrying pizza boxes, followed the 28-year-old woman into the lobby of her apartment building near Prospect Park West at 11 am, then flashed a knife and said, “Give me all your stuff. I don’t want to hurt you.”

The woman handed over an iPhone, black leather boots, $60 — and even her earmuffs. The crook scooped up the stuff and fled in a stolen car, but crashed into a taxi after running several red lights.

Always ask for proof of pizza before opening the door.

Brooklyn Robbers Clean The Crime Scene

Since last summer, 50 different businesses through out Brooklyn -- mostly bodegas and 99-cent stores -- have been robbed by the same group of bandits. Their MO? BLEACH. After the burglars break in and steal the store's ATM machine, they splash the putrid-smelling cleansing agent all over the crime scene.

Sounds like this tactic is working out for them though. Each time they've managed a -- wait for it -- clean getaway. But seriously, I hope the police catch them.

[Via NY Post]

Al Di La Purse Snatcher Thwarted By Badass Wait Staff!

 

To all you would-be robbers: Don't fuck with customers of Al Di La because the wait staff will kick your ass. Here we have the story of a fearless female bartender and waitress who wrestled a stolen purse from a would-be successful snatcher. We received an account of the incident from FiPS reader and Al Di La diner Ross, who saw the whole thing go down:

Click to read more ...