Police Blotter

Groper in bus
A 12-year-old girl told police she was on the No. 11 bus in Chelsea on her way to school at 8:15 a.m. Tues, when a man standing next to her rubbed his hand on her buttocks. She told him to stop, but he continued until she moved away from him, police said. When she got off the bus, the man did too, but he walked away from her, police said. The suspect was described as being 5’10” tall, cross-eyed and walking with a cane because of a crooked leg.

Shoplifting and more
A Chelsea man was charged with shoplifting at the Rite Aid, 188 Ninth Ave. near 21st St., on Tuesday morning Sept. 25 for trying to walk out with a sponge doll and three candy bars. Police said the suspect, Peter Demb, 47, had also tried on Sun. Sept. 23 to get away with assorted merchandize from the store that he had placed in a plastic bag. But when an attendant approached him, he fled after dropping the bag, which also contained his driver’s license. Demb also faces a charge of assault arising from an incident at 6:45 a.m. Sun. Sept. 23, when he had a fight with an acquaintance in Demb’s apartment at 365 W. 20th St., police said.

Left at the bank
A man who made a deposit at the Chase Bank branch, 475 W. 23rd St., at 9:20 a.m. Tues. Sept. 29 accidentally left his portfolio wallet, with $9,000 in cash in it, at the teller’s window, police said. The man went back for it a couple of minutes later, but the portfolio with the money was gone. The teller said that only two bank patrons had been there since the man left. Detectives later arrested Victor Castro, 68, 415 W. 25th St., and charged him with third-degree grand larceny.

Sweaters stolen
The manager of a clothing boutique at 161 Eighth Ave. discovered at 4:30 p.m. Thurs. Sept. 20 that someone had made off with six sweaters valued at $340 without paying for them, police said.

Welding machine
A man who made off with a welding machine on a hand truck from in front of the U-Hall repair garage at 555 W. 22nd St. near 11th Ave. at 4:17 p.m. Mon. Sept. 24 was arrested as he was fleeing east on 21st St., police said. Johnny Davis, 58 was charged with grand larceny.

Crack sale
Police arrested two men for sale and possession of crack cocaine on Eighth Ave. at 2:07 a.m. Sun. Sept. 23. Leondro Ranieri, 42, was charged with selling the crack to Daniel Pichardo, 37, who was charged with possession.

Gang assault
Two friends walking on W. 17th St. at Ninth Ave. at 3:50 a.m. Sun. Sept. 23 were set upon by a group of six men who punched them for no apparent reason, police said. One suspect, Brian Canessa, 22, was arrested and charged with gang assault.

Takes G.P.S.
A motorist who parked his car on the north side of W. 22nd St. at Ninth Ave. at 4 p.m. Fri. Sept 21 returned three hours later to find a window broken and his Global Positioning System, valued at $900, stolen.

— By Albert Amateau