Man Claims Police Uniform After Bold Break-In
On Monday, prosecutors revealed that Timothy Adams, nicknamed Ding-A-Lin, had somehow managed to sneak into a New York City police station, lift an officer’s uniform, and casually leave without anyone noticing.
The next day, he was discovered unconscious at the Clinton House near City Hall, wearing a police bomb that was, thankfully, unexploded. A vigilant passerby spotted him and promptly called 911, prompting a police response.
“Officers found him unconscious in an empty NYCHA building,” stated Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Megan Vercele. “He was still donning the NYPD uniform.”
Just to give you a sense of his background, Adams, 37, is reportedly homeless and has a lengthy criminal record that includes three felonies and 23 misdemeanors, making him quite familiar with police property theft.
Back in 2021, he was convicted for breaking into an NYPD vehicle and stealing emergency gear, including a vest, baton, and even live ammunition, according to prosecutors.
During his arraignment on Wednesday in Manhattan Criminal Court, he showed up in clothing that didn’t quite fit. As details emerged, we learned he had brazenly accessed a secure area within the 23rd Precinct on East 102nd Street.
Surveillance footage indicated that he walked past signage indicating “Authorized Personnel Only” before entering the administrative office around 5:40 a.m., as reported by Versale and court documents. It’s still puzzling how he managed to enter the police station without being stopped.
“Normally, there’s supposed to be a security guard at the entrance,” a police source commented. “You’d think someone would check in with you.”
Inside, Adams made off with a full uniform, handcuffs, keys, and various police documents, Belsale elaborated. “He was caught on camera walking past the access gate, leaving in uniform with a blue bag,” Belsale noted.
The dubious escapade came to an end around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday when a caller reported finding Adams unconscious inside a NYCHA building located about six blocks from the precinct.
Upon waking, he is said to have confessed to taking “everything from the 23rd Precinct,” according to the court documents. But that’s not all; during the hearing, Adams faced additional charges stemming from an alleged theft of $2.45 from a tip box at a Madison Avenue store earlier this month.
Versale pointed out that Adams had a history of pleading guilty to similar crimes while awaiting sentencing for another case. His criminal dealings reportedly date back to 2002, starting with charges of criminal mischief and graffiti.
In light of all this, Judge Jeffrey Gershney insisted on a cash bail of $10,000 for Adams and mandated a psychiatric evaluation. His next court appearance is set for January 26.
