Our neighborhoods aren't particularly violent, but we still saw our fair share of robberies and assaults in 2010. Here's our list of the most horrific, the strangest and just plain dumbest crimes of the year.
January 1, Carroll and Court streets
Some robberies aren't as successful as others. And good thing! Two teenagers tried to grab a woman's purse, but couldn't get the bag off her shoulder and ran away when she screamed. Less than an hour later, police found and arrested the two youths.
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January 26, 411 Union St.
We all get people who knock on our door asking for donations to a charity, but what about when it's a scam? A 50-year-old man was knocking on doors and asking people to donate to God's Love We Deliver, a charity that delivers meals to people suffering from AIDS. When the scam was revealed, the faker was arrested by police with $75 and four checks on him.
Find out what's happening in Carroll Gardens-Cobble Hillwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
March 21, Hicks Street and Hamilton Avenue
We have no idea what they're doing with it or how it hasn't been found, but a thief made off with a $60,000 cement mixer that was used for renovations on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. The driver of the truck left his keys inside a fenced in lot overnight, only to find it gone when he returned the next morning.
April 24, 320 Smith St.
Most people go for money when they rob a store, but one intruder wanted to take care of his hygienic needs. The man was arrested at a Rite Aid for swiping 12 bottles of Dove body wash.
April 26, 610 Henry St.
Sometimes safety officers need to be protected themselves. A local school safety officer was sent to when a 15-year-old student grabbed her by the hair and punched her repeatedly with a closed fist. The teenager was sent to jail.
May 22, 413 Baltic St.
In the only shooting in the neighborhood this year, a 23-year-old man was shot twice inside the , with the bullets hitting his finger and thigh. Surprisingly, the victim was uncooperative and refused to provide any information about the shooting.
June 11, 67 4th St.
In what was maybe the biggest heist of the year, a local victim fell to an elaborate hoax and was swindled out of $25,000 worth of jewelry including her $3,000 engagement ring. The woman answered her door to a man who claimed to be an inspector from the fire department. While he accompanied her to the backyard, his accomplice crept into her bedroom and made off with the goods.
August 15, Court Street and 2nd Place
In an unprovoked attack, a local gang beat a 17-year-old in the wee hours of the morning with baseball bats and golf clubs. The teenager sustained bruising in the incident, but refused medical attention afterwards.
October 26, 133 Summit St.
A 13-year-old boy was the victim of a horrific act in which a fellow classmate branded him with a quarter during an art class at the . The teenage attacker was charged with assault, but the boy suffered second degree burns as a result of the incident.
November 19, Clinton and Warren streets
Someone broke into a woman's home and made off with $1,000 in cash, two Gucci watches totaling $4,000 and a platinum ring worth $2,000. His job was made slightly easier by the fact that she left a key for the house right on the window sill. Really? Why didn't you just invite the thief in for dinner, too?
