NYPD seeks four suspects in connection with Central Park theft
The NYPD is currently searching for four suspects in connection with a theft in Central Park last Sunday.
Central Park – The NYPD is currently searching for the four suspects who stole a man’s bag in Central Park last Sunday and used it to make purchases worth over $1,000.
It happened on August 11 at approximately 8:15 a.m. when a 37-year-old man left his bag on a bench near 60 West Drive and walked away.
The four suspects then stole the bag and made purchases worth over $1,000 using the man’s credit and debit cards.
No injuries were reported.
This comes after three separate robberies last week. The NYPD is deploying extra officers to help curb crime. The NYPD says it is now sending an additional 40 police officers to patrol Central Park every day from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The New York Police Department is now blaming a migrant gang for the rise in crime in Central Park. Last week, an 11-year-old boy was arrested in connection with what the New York Police Department is calling a “larger pattern of robberies by young migrants in Central Park.”
Police have linked about 10 robberies in or around the park to a group of up to 12 migrant boys or young men. FOX News reported. The NYPD said at a press conference on Wednesday that dozens of police officers would be deployed to the tourist hotspot to counter the worrying increase.
82-year-old woman attacked
NYPD investigates robbery near 97th Street
The New York Police Department is investigating a robbery near the 97th Street Transverse that occurred on a tennis court shortly before 10:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.
According to police sources, a man in his 30s pushed an 82-year-old woman in Central Park near the tennis courts on Wednesday morning. It happened around 10:17 a.m.
The man pushed her and said: “You shouldn’t be here,” police sources said.
The man then fled the scene. According to police, she suffered minor injuries to her knees, nose and elbows.
She was treated by the emergency services.
Photos of suspects in West 62nd robbery released
According to police, two male suspects approached two 20-year-old men, started a conversation and then robbed them.
It happened at the corner of West 62nd Street and West Drive before 10:45 p.m.
The suspects did not display any weapons, but were able to get away with a chain and a vape pen. The victims were not injured.
No arrests were made.
On Thursday, the NYPD released photos of the two suspects.
The first suspect is a slim man. He was last seen wearing a black tank top, ripped jeans, white sneakers, and a red and white baseball cap.
The second suspect is a man who also has a slim build. He was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, black ripped jeans, dark Crocs and a black baseball cap.
3 robberies reported at the entrance to Central Park
At around 1 a.m., three different people were robbed right outside the park entrance at the corner of 5th Avenue and 59th Street.
Teenagers arrested for alleged robberies in Central Park
A group of teenagers have been arrested for allegedly assaulting three people in Central Park, police said. The incident came at a time of heightened safety concerns around the park. FOX 5 NY’s Linda Schmidt has the details.
According to police, the victims, aged 15, 21 and 35, were approached by a group of male suspects, one of whom claimed to have a gun and pointed to his waistband.
The suspects are said to have fled with a pair of Apple AirPods and a necklace, but were eventually caught by police.
Three teenagers aged 14, 16 and 17 were arrested, one is still at large. None of the victims were injured.
NYC Crime Statistics
Mayor Eric Adams on crime and migrants
FOX 5 NY speaks with Mayor Eric Adams about several recent crimes, including an increase in attacks in Central Park and the ongoing refugee crisis.
According to NYPD crime statistics, the number of serious crimes in Central Park has increased by 46% this year compared to the same period last year. The number of robberies has increased by 200% in the meantime.
In the nearby Midtown North Precinct, overall crime increased by 10% and robberies increased by 87%.
According to John Chell, chief of the NYPD, crime in Central Park has increased significantly this year, mainly due to robberies.
“There are no secrets here, crime in this park has increased this year. More specifically, robberies are commonplace here,” Chell said. “At this point, we are ready to call it out. This is a pattern of robberies by migrants.”
How long the increased patrols will last and what effect they will have on crime rates remains to be seen. The NYPD is asking anyone who can identify suspects in recent robberies to contact police.
FOX News contributed to this report.
