While ninjas are mysterious, criminals who consort with ninjas might have some tricks up their sleeves. Like Nazmi Papraniku, a Macedonian national with ties to the legendary Staten Island Ninja Burglar. Papraniku was recently arrested for a burglary in NJ, news that upset some NYC law enforcement officials because he was supposed to be deported. more ›

Could a reprise of one of the greatest Staten Island crime stories (unrelated to the mob) ever be happening right now? The police are investigating a series of burglaries at homes in posh areas, and the Staten Island Advance's headline says it all: "Shades of the Staten Island Ninja: Cops group 6 jobs since July in house-burglary pattern." more ›

With the report of a recent burglaries—including one apparently by a thief in a ninja costume who is able to make daring leaps—concerns about the so-called Ninja Burglar have been rekindled on Staten Island. The Staten Island Advance reports that the Iron Hills Civic Association "decided to rehire its security patrols in mid-March, a few weeks after the back-to-back burglaries of two doctors' houses on Ocean Terrace and Tiber Place." The security company's owner explained, "They're scared, and I can't blame them. It's dark. Very few people have fenced-in yards, so you can go from property to property. We're writing down license plate numbers, we're noticing utility vans that appear to have no particular direction." It's also a good idea for homeowners to do things, like lock their doors and close and latch their windows—the thief this week entered through an open 2nd floor window (luckily Snickers the dog alerted his owners). more ›

While the police closed the case on the Staten Island Ninja Burglar last year, some Shaolin residents are still on their toes about the shadowy thief who terrorized many homeowners by stealing their belongings wearing all black. Now, the Staten Island Advance reports that a couple in the Emerson Hill section came face-to-face with a figure trying to rob their mansion Homeowner Russ Irarey said, "He was a ninja in a black suit, only his eyes were showing." more ›

Holy nunchuks! The Staten Island Advance reports "the NYPD has quietly closed the book on Staten Island's so-called Ninja Burglar case, after authorities started deportation proceedings against at least one Albanian man they believe to be connected to the string of break-ins." more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a missing child on Union St. in Brooklyn, a shooting on Wyatt St. in the Bronx, and a fatal car fire on the Long Island Expressway near College Point in Queens.
• Colombian immigrants celebrate their roots with rolling parties aboard buses known as chivas.
• Is the person doing Amazon.com product reviews for ski masks under the screen name "Ninja Thief" Staten Island's very own Ninja Burglar?
• New York Times critic Kelefa Sanneh is rumored to be heading to The New Yorker.
• A horse marching in the Queens St. Patrick's Day pararade yesterday bolted free from its handler and galloped into a crowd of spectators. Four people were injured.
• A woman with the unwieldy street name "Brooklyn's Reclusive Cat Woman Bank Robber" was arrested after returning most of the money she stole several years ago and attempting to apologize to the the bank.
• For the first time in its 31-year history, the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament was held in Brooklyn. First prize is $5,000 and a dictionary.
• Police arrested a man in the fatal stabbing of a Brooklyn woman that occurred Saturday night.

The Staten Island Ninja Burglar's 19th robbery (and first of 2008) last week turns out to have been his biggest yet. The Advance reports that the initial $20,000 worth of jewelry nabbed from a mansion on Melhorne Road is now more like $225,000 worth: "Tiffany diamond earrings. A 1 1/2 carat diamond ring. Several 22 karat gold necklaces. A gold watch lined with diamonds." Ninja likes bling! more ›

Staten Island's Ninja Burglar struck again late last week, slipping furtively and unseen into a doctor's home on Melbourn Rd. in the Castleton Corners section of the borough. No one was home at the time and he scored big in his 19th break-in since May of last year, making off with $20,000 in jewelry. The theft comes just a little over a month after the man in black struck twice in quick succession in late November. more ›

A woman was robbed in her Staten Island home by a man clad in black on Monday morning but authorities do not think it's the Ninja Burglar. A police source told the Staten Island Advance, "There are burglaries committed every day and everybody is wearing black out there." more ›

In addition to searching for the Ninja Burglar, Staten Island police can now look for the couple that stole a beloved Blue Sable Chihuahua. Rosie, a rare bread of chihuahua, was stolen from Deseree Fisher's home Tuesday night at around 8 p.m. by a pair of daring thieves. They didn't seem to be after electronics, jewelery, or cash when the broke down the door of the house while people were inside, just the dog. Fisher's son Jesse and his girlfriend were upstairs playing Guitar Hero when they heard a loud noise. He ran downstairs to see a man and woman rushing into an SUV. Ms. Fisher doesn't know who would buy Rosie, but her son may have told people how much she could fetch on the open market. more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: shots fired on 166th St. and the Grand Concourse in the Bronx, a pedestrian struck at Berry St. and Division Ave. in Brooklyn, and a found body on Richmond Valley and Arthur Kill on Staten Island.
• Still searching for the Staten Island ninja burglar, police questioned New York Post photographer Ron Romano because of his ninja-like ability to tightrope walk.
• A huge hole in the middle of Brooklyn's Pacific Street provides rude awakenings for drivers who don't see it.
• Mark it. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly says he has no intention of running for Mayor.
• The City of New York was found liable for the 2004 mauling of a toddler in the Bronx, because a police officer gave a pit bull to a mother who had never handled the dog before.
• The loudest neighborhoods in NYC, based on the number of noise complaints. The Bronx is blasting.
• With two weeks to go before Christmas, customers are lining up day and night to get a hand on a Nintendo Wii game system.
• Brooklyn District Attorney Charles J. Hynes describes the sub-premium mortgage meltdown as equivalent to the crack epidemic of the 1980s.
• And w00t is Merriam-Webster's word of the year.

We've admired the Wee Ninja from Shawnimals ever since we were looking for a visual to go with posts about the Staten Island Ninja Burglar. Wee Ninja is actually not a criminal in Shawn Smith's Ninjatown - Wee Ninjas only train, harvest Stealth Wheart, and fight the Wee Devils (or something along those lines). And now it turns out that there's an event at My Plastic Heart on Forsyth Street this Friday, Keep it... more ›

After news of the Ninja Burglar's robberies at two homes in one night this past weekend, Staten Island residents are upset. One resident whose parents live near one of the recent victims told the Staten Island Advance that the two months in between robberies may have caused "people [to] let their guard down a little bit." The most recent victims, on Ocean Terrace, elderly couple Jean and John Interlandi, spoke out. Their house was robbed... more ›

Just in time for the holidays - and holiday presents - the Ninja Burglar has returned! The nefarious nighttime nuisance that had Staten Island residents on their toes after hitting sixteen homes (some with homeowners in them) robbed two homes in the Todt Hill neighborhood over the weekend. The Advance reported that the "elusive serial bandit" first robbed a mansion on Louisa Lane. He entered through a second floor terrace door - while the... more ›

Need a last minute costume idea and in a New York state of mind? Here are a few NYC-themed ideas for your Halloween fête... more ›

The shadowy "Ninja Burglar" and his brazen break-ins - when homeowners are present - are worrying Staten Island residents. The Staten Island Advance reports the Iron Hills Civic Association is meeting with the highest ranking police officer in Staten Island, Assistant Chief Albert Girimonte, today and that a "walk-through tour of the neighborhood with police is tentatively slated for Wednesday morning." The Ninja Burglar's latest victims, Mary Ann and John Carlo, recalled the Friday night... more ›

A Todt Hill couple's home was broken into by the infamous Ninja Burglar last night. The craziest part: The wife ran into him. The Staten Island Advance reports that Mary Ann Carlo bumped into the intruder. Carlo said, "I started screaming, 'The Ninja is here! The Ninja! The Ninja!'" The Advance has the details AND gets a plug:At about 10:30 p.m., Mrs. Carlo turned off the television and headed downstairs toward the bedroom, where her... more ›

A Staten Island man was about to fall asleep early Thursday morning only to be woken up when someone broke into his apartment - little did he know that it was the 'Ninja Burgler'. Phil Chiolo heard his cat Tippy growl, which was unusual, before hearing something fall downstairs. While in the kitchen investigating the sound, Chiolo saw someone dressed in, "a Halloween-like ninja outfit, with just his eyes peering out." Soon afterwards, the ninja... more ›