String of Thefts on Vanderbilt Avenue

Three businesses on Vanderbilt Avenue were hit by thieves in less than 24 hours last week, according to police reports.

On Thursday morning, Jan 19, someone swiped a bag holding a $2,000 MacBook Pro off a table at , between Bergen and St. Marks. The bag belonged to the owner, who left it briefly on a table in the empty but unlocked restaurant between 10:15 a.m. and 10:20 a.m. while he went into the back.

Then, at 3 p.m. the same day, a woman swiped a store clerk’s purse at , a block away between Bergen and Dean. The thief walked behind the counter while the clerk was helping customers, grabbed the bag and ran out. The purse held $300 cash, $250 gold earrings.

Earlier that day, thief lifted an iPad from a customer’s unattended bag at Weather Up, on the same block, sometime between 11 p.m. on Wednesday Jan. 18, and 1:30 a.m. on Thursday.

In addition, on Jan. 11, a waitresses cell phone was stolen off of a table at , also on Vanderbilt at Bergen. The theft happened during the lunch shift, an employee at the restaurant said.