Cops need the public’s help in finding a burglar who busted through a dozen eateries across Manhattan since mid-November.
Each of the capers have taken place during late-evening and early-morning hours, from about 11 p.m. to about 6 a.m. The crook — a man in his 30s with a medium build and eyeglasses — usually forces his way inside the front door, going as far as to kick it down or pull it enough times to snap the locks.
The most recent caper occurred at 1 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, at the Left Bank Diner, located at 117 Perry St. in Greenwich Village. Law enforcement sources said the burglar smashed open the glass front door, then went inside and removed electronic tablets, a liquor bottle and $200 in cash.
The other break-ins, in chronological order, are as follows:
- Nov. 19, 12:30 a.m., at Milk & Hops bar/nightclub, 166 Ninth Ave. in Chelsea. Cops said the suspect forcibly kicked in the glass of the front door, then went inside and removed $269 in cash.
- Nov. 20, 12:36 a.m., at Paolas Osteria, 1246 Madison Ave. on the Upper East Side. According to police, the burglar walked through an unlocked front door, went behind the bar and removed $200 from the cash register.
- Nov. 21, 12:50 a.m., at Vino Tapas Restaurant, 201 East 31st St. in Kips Bay. Police said the crook forcibly opened the front door, then removed $700 in cash from the register.
- Nov. 21, 6 a.m., at Sarafina Restaurant, 7 Ninth Ave. in the West Village. Law enforcement sources said the bandit repeatedly pulled on the front door until he finally broke the locks. He then entered the establishment and removed three tablets, an Apple computer and two Samsung phones.
- Nov. 21, 11 p.m., at Nirvana Restaurant, 346 Lexington Ave. in Murray Hill. Cops reported that the suspect forcibly opened the front door, then stole $150 from the cash register.
- Nov. 21, 11:20 p.m., at Tipsy Scoop Candy Store, 217 East 26th St. in Kips Bay. According to police, the burglar forcibly pushed open the glass front door with his shoulders and backside, causing it to shatter. He ultimately fled without stealing any items, but caused $850 in reported damage.
- Nov. 21, 11:48 p.m., at Cafe Delectria, 564 Third Ave. in Murray Hill. Cops said the crook attempted to force open the front door, but abandoned his burglary bid after triggering an alarm.
- Nov. 25, 11:30 p.m., at Bocca Di Bacco Restaurant, 167 Ninth Ave. in Chelsea. Authorities said the bandit forcibly pulled open the front door, then unsuccessfully attempted to remove cash from the register.
- Nov. 26, 4 a.m., at CookShop Restaurant, 156 Tenth Ave. in Chelsea. Police said the perpetrator shattered the front door glass, then attempted to remove cash from the register, but ran off empty-handed when he noticed several employees entering the room.
- Nov. 27, 2:21 a.m., at Under the Bridge, 1079 First Ave. on the East Side. According to law enforcement sources, the crook smashed through a front window, then entered the establishment and removed an Apple tablet, five Samsung tablets and two bottles of liquor.
- Nov. 29, 2 a.m., at Pio Pio Restaurant, 210 East 34th St. in Kips Bay. Police said the suspect broke through the front door and removed $200 in cash from the register.
- Nov. 29, 4:33 a.m., at Bocca Di Bacco Restaurant in Chelsea. Cops reported that the suspect returned to the eatery and forcibly broke the lock of the front door to get in. He then removed an Apple iPad from the counter and fled on foot westbound along 20th Street.
On Dec. 3, the NYPD released video footage of the perpetrator taken from the Nov. 20 incident. Police said he was last seen wearing a gray/dark green jacket, a light-colored hooded sweatshirt, black Adidas sweatpants and white sneakers.
Anyone with information regarding the burglary pattern or the suspect’s whereabouts can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA), visit the Crime Stoppers website or send a direct messages on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
