The Keystone Krooks

From the NY Post:

A thief who snatched about $1,800 from a Ridgewood eatery tried to cover up his crime by sticking a piece of gum on the lens of a surveillance camera, cops said.

But Raymond Wright's efforts were in vain, because the gum fell off moments later, leading to his Jan. 5 arrest on burglary charges, said a spokeswoman for DA Richard Brown.

Wright, 52, allegedly used a key to enter the manager's office in Ridgewood Eats on Seneca Avenue near Catalpa Avenue at around 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 5.

He swiped two envelopes containing cash bonuses for the restaurant's employees and fled, police said.

Minutes later, the owner walked into the office, noticed the money was missing and called police, who reviewed the damning video footage.

A masked bandit who apparently needed to buy an expensive present has been charged with stealing gift cards at a 7/Eleven store in Forest Hills.

George Laracuente, 43, swiped three gift cards and ordered a worker to put $500 on each card while sticking up the store on Queens Boulevard near 68th Road at about 11:15 a.m. on Dec. 21, cops said.

Laracuente allegedly gestured that he had a gun and verbally threatened the worker, who pretended to put the money on the cards.

Laracuente fled, but later returned to complain that the cards were empty, cops said.

The same worker then put $500 each on two of the cards and Laracuente fled, authorities said.

Laracuente was busted on Jan. 7 and charged with robbery.