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A woman told police she was having dinner last night at the Moca Bleu restaurant on Teaneck road when the thief walked over to her table, said he’s dropped a utensil on the floor and then bent down to pick it up for her.
He then “kneeled on the floor next to her, placed a piece of silverware on the table, and quickly snatched the victim’s pocketbook, which was on the ground between her feet,” Kazinci told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
It contained personal property as well as bank cards, credit cards and an undetermined amount of cash, the captain said.
A witness took down the license plate number of the getwaway car, which had been reported stolen yesterday from Hackensack, Kazinci told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
Teaneck police immediately broadcast descriptions, and around 7 p.m., Fort Lee officer spotted the Beamer headed east on Route 4.
The driver refused to stop, speeding through the bridge toll and exiting in Washington Heights, where he crashed on 168th Street. He got out and tried to run, but Port Authority police snatched him on Riverside Avenue, Kazinci told the web site.
Police brought a witness to the scene who identified 43-year-old Gregory Prior as the thief. He was carrying a syringe, the captain said.
Turns out Prior had priors — DOZENS of them — for robbery, assault, burglary, theft, and drug-related offenses, among others, records show. He also was on the fugitive list for a parole violation. Prior is being held in New York City pending charges by police there before extradition, Kazinci said.
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