Police are searching for a group of teen thieves believed to be between 16 and 18-years-old that have been preying upon parkgoers for money, cellphones and electronics since Sept. 16th. Authorities believe the thieves are connected to at least five robberies and attempted robberies.
On Wednesday police released surveillance photos of some of the assailants in the hopes that the public recognizes them. The group usually attack their victims on the periphery of the park near entrances, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
Manhattan
Cops are searching for a group of teen thieves who turned Central Park into a hunting ground for hapless victims, officials said Wednesday.
The four boys — all believed to be between 16 and 18 — have been preying upon parkgoers for cash, cellphones and electronics since Sept. 16, police said.
Investigators have connected the crooks to at least five robberies and attempted robberies. Police on Wednesday released surveillance pictures of some of the crooks in the hopes that someone recognizes them. The teens usually attack their victims on the periphery of the park near entrances, police said.
The crew began its reign of terror when they attacked an 86-year-old Upper East Side man strolling out of Central Park with his wife near E. 76th St. and East Drive about 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 16. The thieves pulled the senior to the ground by his collar, causing a cut on his cheek, cops said. They got away with his wallet, containing about $20 and credit cards.
Police released surveillance photos of some of the assailants wanted in a series of attacks around the periphery of Central Park near entrances.
The victim initially told police that a beggar had robbed him but investigators later learned that teenagers were responsible, police sources said. The thieves struck again Oct. 7 when they jumped into a 60-year-old pedicab driver’s pedicab on the Central Park Transverse near East Drive about 3:10 p.m. They tried to steal his iPhone 6 but ran off empty handed.
Later that night, the crew jumped a 21-year-old man walking along a path near E. 69th St. and East Drive, knocking him to the ground about 11:20 p.m., cops said. They punched him in the back of the head and kicked him while he was down before running off with his Galaxy cellphone and Nexus tablet, cops said. The thieves accosted two more people on Oct. 10, cops said.
The crew tried to grab a 31-year-old man they spotted riding his bike just outside the park on Fifth Ave. and E. 102nd St. just after midnight, officials said. They reached for the man’s backpack but the victim pedaled off, according to police. The surveillance photos of the suspects cops released Wednesday were taken during this incident.
Less than 10 minutes later, they jumped 47-year-old Jacob Angstreich, who was riding a CitiBike along East Drive near E. 95th St., officials said. One of the teens ordered him to get off the bike and punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground, sources said. His phone fell to the ground and another member of the group scooped it up before the teens fled, sources said. No serious injuries were reported in any of the crimes, officials said.
Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
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New York Daily News - November 2, 2016 - By Thomas Tracy
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