12 THE QUEENS COURIER • JULY 17, 2014 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com 108TH PRECINCT Long Island City, Sunnyside and Woodside 114TH PRECINCT Astoria, Long Island City, Woodside and Jackson Heights Burglary spree hits LIC restaurants A burglary suspect has broken into fi ve Long Island City restaurants and bars since June, getting away with cash and electronics, cops said. The crime spree started on June 11 at Andre’s Pizza, located on 40th Avenue. The suspect took $20 from the restaurant’s cash register by breaking through the glass front door police said. He then allegedly used the same method to break into Manducatis Rustica on Vernon Boulevard during the early morning hours of June 22. The burglar stole two iPads, two iPad minis and $700 in cash, according to authorities. The suspect also took a Galaxy 10 electronic tablet and $100 from Woodbines on Vernon Boulevard three days later, and $850 from the Seattle Café, on Queens Boulevard on June 27, cops said. During the latest incident, around 4:20 a.m. on July 4, the suspect attempted to burglarize the LIC Bar on Vernon Boulevard by entering through a window, but fl ed before he could take anything, according to police. Jeff Blath, owner of Alobar on Vernon Boulevard, believes the same suspect who tried to burglarize LIC Bar may have attempted to break into his restaurant just minutes earlier. According to the establishment’s security footage and a porter who watches the eatery, around 3:50 a.m. a man, wearing similar clothing, used a glass bottle to hit Alobar’s door several times before stumbling backwards and walking away. The man damaged the door and was caught on camera heading in the direction of LIC Bar, just two blocks down the street, Blath said. He reported the incident to police, but said it isn’t considered an attempted burglary, just criminal mischief. Blath, who opened Alobar three years ago and has lived in Long Island City for seven years, said the recent crime spree is a “very rare occurrence” in the area. “I do know this neighborhood is becoming known for its restaurants and bars, and it may draw positive and negative attention,” he said. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (8477). 110TH PRECINCT Corona and Elmhurst Queens woman raped while walking home: cops Police are looking for a suspect who raped a Queens woman as she was heading to her home. The man approached the 32-year-old victim from behind at about 11:50 p.m. on July 8 as she was on 46th Avenue in Corona, according to authorities and published reports. He then took her into a corner, sprayed her in the face with an unknown substance and raped her, cops said. The suspect fl ed after the woman bit him. The victim was taken to Elmhurst Hospital in stable condition where she was treated and later released, according to police. Authorities describe the suspect as a Hispanic man in his 30s, 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall, about 180 pounds, with black hair that was in a ponytail. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (8477). s police beat COMPILED BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA and ANGY ALTAMIRANO FBI releases video in Elmhurst unsolved armored car robbery Photo courtesy of FBI Workers to receive nearly $400K in underpaid wages Wet Basement? Call artie Basement Water Proofing Specialist Serving Queens for 35 Years For more information contact Artie DiBiase Mason Contractor 718.767.0072 Licensed #08097 and Insured Photo courtesy of City Comptroller Scott Stringer’s offi ce The Perfect Pet is Waiting for You! North Shore ANimAl leAgue AmericA has over 300 Loving Puppies, Kittens, Dogs & Cats. opeN every dAy 365 dAyS! sun - thurs 10am - 9pm Fri & sat til 10 pm AnimalLeague.org • 1.516.883.7575 25 Davis Avenue • Port Washington, NY Like us on Home of the Mutt-i-gree® Photo courtesy of NYPD The FBI has released video footage of the unsolved robbery of an armored truck guard in Elmhurst earlier this year. Authorities now believe the same suspects may be linked to a second heist at a PLS Check Cashing location at 105-22 Northern Blvd., Corona, in on January 25, 2013. During the Elmhurst robbery, a GardaWorld armored truck arrived at the HSBC Bank at 82-57 Broadway just after 12 p.m. on January 31 to make a regularly scheduled deposit pick-up. As one of the armed guards was leaving the bank, the three suspects attacked him at gunpoint inside the ATM lobby, according to the FBI. The suspects may have used a .45 semi-automatic handgun during the robbery and as they fl ed they sprayed the guard with mace. The three men then fl ed on foot with cash from the guard, the FBI said. Authorities describe the men as either Asian or Hispanic and they were dressed in heavy winter clothes. The getaway vehicle is believed to be a green Ford Explorer XLT, possibly from 2002 or 2003, with a dealer or out-of-state rear license plate. GardaWorld is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the capture, arrest and conviction of those responsible and the recovery of the stolen money. Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 212-384-1000. Tipsters may remain anonymous. To see the video footage, visit www.queenscourier.com. After not being fully paid for contracted work, two workers, including an Astoria man, have been given what they were rightfully owed. City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer announced an agreement with National Insulation & GC, Corp., in which the company admitted to “willfully and knowingly failing to pay two employees,” Astoria resident Angel Ribadeneira and Francisco Ayala from Brooklyn, a prevailing wage for contracted work. Both men were hired by National Insulation to do insulation work at city public schools between December 2006 and November 2010, according to the comptroller’s offi ce. An investigation by the comptroller’s offi ce, prompted by a DOE referral and provided evidence, revealed allegations of under-reporting hours, misclassifi cation of workers and use of “ghost workers” on sites. “We have found that all too often, employees are fl eeced out of money to which they’re entitled by unscrupulous contractors looking to cut corners,” Stringer said. “These employees worked hard for their salaries and they deserve to get every cent that’s rightfully owed to them.” National Insulation will pay a fi ne of $435,666.72, including more than $39,000 in civil penalties to the city, as a result of the settlement. “I’m thrilled,” said Ribadeneira, who received a $102,000 payout. “I’m going to make certain my wife and I will have enough to live on comfortably and set aside money for my three sons and six grandchildren.” Ayala is receiving $294,000.
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