Woman Used Keys Found In Stolen Jacket To Go On CitiBike Joy Ride, Jersey City Police Say
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- You may want to think twice about where to leave your things the next time you go out to a bar or restaurant.
Jersey City police are looking for a woman who stole a man's coat from a bar and then took the victim for a ride.
As CBS2's Meg Baker reported, surveillance cameras outside of the bar 'Pet Shop' in Jersey City -- off Newark and Jersey Avenues -- caught the woman on camera after she stole a jacket from inside.
"Meanwhile, I'm standing there having a great time just talking, then she says bye to a person, looks like she puts her jacket inside my jacket, and runs out," Andre Nicholas said.
Nicholas was out with friends the Monday before Thanksgiving. He hung his vintage hounds tooth jacket on a hook under the bar.
"Next thing I know, around 11:15, around that time, can't find my jacket so I start going nuts, where's my jacket?" Nicholas said.
He described the video.
"She starts to fiddle under the bar," he said.
Nicholas said it was a cold night, but it appears the thief already had a coat.
"The woman sits at the bar, takes her jacket on, takes off, then she starts to have a conversation with a guy," he said.
That's where it got even worse. Inside of Nicholas' jacket was his CitiBike key. He got a notice that she went for a joy ride.
"At that point CitiBike said if that bike isn't returned, that's going to be a $1,200 fine," he said.
Also in his jacket were keys to a warehouse where he restores furniture. He said replacing those locks could cost more than $5,000.
"That being said, if you do have my keys, please give them back," he said.
Fortunately the woman did finally return the CitiBike, but after this ordeal Nicholas said he will hold onto his jacket the next time he goes out.
Jersey City police believe the suspect likely lives in Jersey City.
