Fake Construction Worker Robs Lesley Stahl's Apartment

Seems like even at a Central Park West apartment building in the West 70s, robbers can get in. A CPW apartment belonging to 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl and her family was "ransacked" by a thief last Friday morning. Apparently the thief, who stole over a $100,000 worth of items, managed to sneak into the penthouse by posing as a contractor - there are many projects at the building.

The NY Press' sister publication, the West Side Spirit, reported that two contractors had been let into the master bedroom:

A third contractor, who was working on the roof—which can be reached through a door in the master bedroom—noticed the door to the bedroom was open, and peeked in. It had been, in the words of the police report, “ransacked.”

The contractor then notified the female employee, who tried to return to the room, through the apartment, only to find the door blocked by a chair. So the roof contractor climbed into the master bedroom and let her in.

Police believe the thief gained access by breaking in via the patio door. Among the items taken were jewelry and a laptop. The Post spoke to a construction worker at the building who said, "It's tough with so many people coming in and out. There's new people in here every day."

Last fall, after two women robbed apartments during open houses, some real estate broker suggested additional security measures before allowing people entry. We wonder if building contractors and workers need to check in similarly.