An alleged thief took advantage of the coronavirus closures to target eateries in a string of 18 burglaries that netted more tens of thousands of dollars in cash, booze and electronics, The Post has learned.
Terrance Brown, 59, was arrested just after 1:30 a.m. Sunday at the intersection of W. 34 Street and 7th Avenue after being spotted by Midtown South cops, according to police sources.
Brown was wanted in connection to 18 separate burglaries — mainly restaurants and bars — between April 21 and May 4 across the borough, cops said.
In total, police say Brown has made off with around $30,000 in cash, liquor and electronics.
Police sources said Brown, donning a surgical mask, would cut through the vinyl vestibules and use the front area to avoid being spotted breaking through the glass doors.
In one of the incidents on April 21, Brown broke into Marlo Bistro Restaurant at about 10 p.m. and stole $500 and two Apple iPads.
Brown’s arrests come as the NYPD reports a nearly 43 percent uptick in burglaries citywide over the last month — the majority of which happened in Manhattan.
Patrol Borough Manhattan South has seen the largest increase, recording a more than a 70 percent jump, up to 171 from 100, over the last four weeks, according to department data released Monday.
The northern Manhattan Patrol Borough also saw a nearly 60 percent increase over the last month with 141 break-ins reported this year compared to 89 last year, the data shows.
Brown was charged with a slew of charges, including counts of burglary, attempted burglary, criminal mischief and criminal possession of stolen property, court records show.
No defense attorney was listed for Brown.
