Career Criminal Steals Woman's Cell Phone In Union Sq. Park

Manhattan

By Geoffrey Croft

It was not a good day for Union Square Park.

A career criminal was arrested for stealing a 27-year-old woman's I-Phone in the famed park.

Walter Del Rosario, 49, was nabbed by police after an officer saw the assailant walk up to the woman and remove a Samsung Galaxy cell phone from the fanny pack she was wearing around her waist.

When officers approached the defendant, he dropped the Samsung cellphone.

The incident occurred on July 16, 2014, at about 12:30 PM, in the vicinity of Evelyn's Playground near 16th St. and West Union Square. 

Del Rosario has sixteen prior arrests.   

He was also wanted for a February 26, 2014 theft in Starbucks where he allegedly stole a Sony Vaio laptop, valued at approximately $2,000,  passport, keys, and a boarding pass from a man. 

The victim was sitting inside of Starbucks at 13 Astor Place where he had his backpack on the ground next to him swiped.

Police viewed video surveillance and saw the defendant take the backpack according to the compliant.

Del Rosario was charged with one count of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree in both incidents and was arraigned on July 17th.  Bail was set at $1, 000 cash or bond. 

He was scheduled to appear in court today. 

Later that evening, two heart-less welfare workers employed by the Parks Department were arrested for stealing a person's cell phone he was while being attacked in Union Square Park.