Opinion
October 1, 1992
Appeal from the Supreme Court, New York County, Alvin Schlesinger, J., John A.K. Bradley, J.
Defendant and the codefendant were observed by officers in the act of picking the complainant's pocket. After a short chase, both men were apprehended and the complainant's property recovered from the codefendant. Accordingly, we reject defendant's claims on appeal that his guilt was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt (People v Thompson, 72 N.Y.2d 410, 413), and that the police lacked probable cause to arrest him (People v Lypka, 36 N.Y.2d 210). Nor did the trial court commit error in its Sandoval ruling by allowing cross-examination of many prior crimes involving dishonesty. "It is well settled that a defendant cannot shield himself from impeachment on the basis of the very frequency of his offenses, or his tendency to specialize in his criminal endeavors" (People v Brown, 161 A.D.2d 458, lv denied 76 N.Y.2d 938).
We have considered defendant's remaining contentions and find them to be without merit.
Concur — Milonas, J.P., Rosenberger, Ellerin and Rubin, JJ.