A yellow-bellied perp held up a man on West First Street on July 20 only to chicken out at the last minute.

The victim told cops that he was near Avenue P at around 11:30 pm when the man pointed a handgun at him and demanded his money and cellphone.

When the victim refused, the perp turned tail and ran away.

Locked box

A perp broke into a home on 73rd Street and took $10,000 on July 20.

The victim told cops that she returned to her house, which is between 17th and 18th Avenues, at around 2 pm to find the metal box where she kept the money empty.

Beer bash

Three reckless thugs assaulted two men with beer bottles on 15th Avenue on July 20, sending them both to the hospital — but they also sent themselves to the pokey.

One of the victims told police that the three perps began harassing him outside a deli near Bay Ridge Avenue at around 3 am, and then hit him over the head with the brewski. When his friend, who was inside, came to help, he too was hit over the head and badly cut.

All three suspects have been arrested.

No refills

Two armed perps held up a Bath Avenue pharmacy on July 20 — but they should have tried to steal headache medicine, because cops certainly gave them one.

The perps entered the drugstore, which is near Bay 26th Street, at around 3:30 am and started shoplifting jewelry and prescription drugs. But cops responded to a call and caught the thieves red-handed.

Flipped

Proving there’s no honor among thieves, one perp turned over his partner after breaking into an 18th Avenue pizzeria on July 20.

The thieves had sneaked into the closed pizzaria, which is near 84th Street, through a front window at around midnight.

But when cops collared the first criminal, he flipped on his partner, who was also apprehended.

Lucky break

A perp broke into a convenience store on 17th Avenue on July 16 at around 1 am, and got away with $500, lottery tickets, and cigarettes.

The owner of the store, which is between 63rd and 64th Street, told cops that the perp broke down the back door, taking advantage of an alarm system that was actually disabled.

Delivery snatch

A pizza deliveryman’s car was stolen as he dropped off food on Bay Parkway on July 14.

The man told cops that he had pulled his Volkswagen over at around 10 pm and left the key in the ignition.

When he returned to the spot, near 81st Street, the car was not there.

Unkind rewind

A vicious thug held up a video store on Avenue U on July 14 and got away with $70.

The clerk at the store, which is near West Seventh Street, told cops that the perp entered at around 7:30 pm, came behind the counter, indicated that he had a gun under his shirt, and punched the clerk in the face. The clerk promptly gave the thug the cash, and the perp fled.

A walk in the park

A man out for a stroll in Cropsey Park was beat up and robbed on July 20 at around 1:15 am.

The victim told cops that he was jumped from behind as he entered the park at Bay Parkway and Cropsey Avenue, repeatedly punched in the chest, and left crumpled on the ground.

The perp got away with $30 and the victim’s cellphone.

No delivery

Two criminals beat up a deli deliveryman on West Fifth Street on July 15, getting close to $300 for their pernicious efforts.

The victim told cops that he was making a delivery near Kings Highway at around 10:15 pm when he was approached from behind by the two perps.

They pushed him into a wall, and took $290.

— Michael Lipkin

©2008 The Brooklyn Paper