POLICE RELEASE PHOTO AND MORE DETAILS ABOUT LOCAL MUGGINGS
A surveillance image of one of the suspects, via NYPD.
Police have sent out more information to the media about a series of muggings on the Upper West Side. Among the new details: teens attacked a newsstand worker at Broadway and 93rd street just this past Saturday. Also, police now say that the suspects appear to be between 13 and 17 years old.
Here are the details:
1) Thursday, January 22, 2015, 1600 hours, the victim, a 15-year-old male, was walking in front of 67 West 107 Street when the suspects approached him from behind, put him in a choke hold and demanded his money and phone. The suspects then removed the victim’s cell phone and fled.
2) Tuesday, January 27, 2015, 1425 hours, the victim, a 13-year-old male, was walking in front of 647 Columbus Avenue when the suspects approached him, punched the him in the face, and removed his phone and an undetermined amount of money.
3) Wednesday, February 4, 2015, 0715 hours, the victim, a 13-year-old male, was walking in the vicinity of West 93 Street and Columbus Avenue when the suspects approached him, grabbed his neck and demanded his cell phone. The victim struggled with the suspects who then fled empty handed.
4) Friday, February 6, 2015, at 1530 hours, the victim, a 13-year-old male, was in front of 201 West 93 Street when the suspects approached him and asked him if he had anything in his pockets. The victim ignored the suspects who in turn punched him and then fled the location.
5) Saturday, February 7, 2015, 1850 hours, the victim, a 39-year-old male, was working at his newsstand at corner of Broadway and West 93 Street when of the suspects approached him and purchased a candy bar. The other suspects then began removing items from the shelves and leaving. When the victim told the suspects to put the items back, the suspects assaulted the victim and then fled the location. The victim refused medical attention on scene.
If you have information, you can confidentially call 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), submit a tip via www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text CRIMES (274637) and then enter TIP577.
Above is a lot of muggings and assaults.
Can we please not make it about race and privilege and then the mad attacks against each other.
I do not care how liberal you are, these crimes are unacceptable as is the whole after school behavior. I don’t care what color you are – we live in a society and need to respect each other AND the rules
I would like to hear about SOLUTIONS.
Brick the phones with a remote kill switch, track the thieves down, and charge them with their crimes – whether juvenile or adult, whatever’s appropriate. Done. I am very sympathetic to the victims of these crimes, and very grateful to the cops for the work they do to catch the perps. But we commenters don’t go through all this ‘hell in a hand basket, I tell you!’ agony when, say, someone’s wallet or purse gets lifted off their chair at a local wine bar. Why is that?
Because put him in a choke hold. Because punched the him in the face. Because grabbed his neck. Because punched him. Because assaulted the victim.
You’re right – I don’t mean to minimize that! Charge the perps with their crimes.
webot,
I don’t think there is anything in this post that I would disagree with.
But…
“we live in a society and need to respect each other
The irony of your invoking respect, right after posting that completely gratuitous, cheap shot at me* that you did in another thread, is just too great to let pass. (*Since removed, apparently after attention was called to it via the response I submitted. I will extend the benefit of the doubt to whichever moderator approved the offending comment and assume that it was done in error.)
I can only hope that the example you set for your children is nothing like the side of you that was betrayed in that post (and that they never see any such posts of yours).
Thanks for that, since this is all about you.
Where are the parents of these “Thugs in training”? I don’t care if they come from a home where both parents are together or a single parent household. These kids are out of control and the parents are turning a blind eye? Bruce, is this racist to call them Thugs? That’s what they are. They need proper role models and apparently it isn’t coming from where they live or an older adult relative. These are violent crimes and should not be tolerated. Next Bruce will say wah wah wah… Kids get into fights all the time on the uws.
UWS Guy:
How do you know that, “the parents are turning a blind eye”? When you were between the ages of 13 and 17, did your parents accompany you at all times? Would they have been able to stop you if you had been determined and capable of carrying-out muggings or any number of other antisocial, criminal and violent behaviors?
“They need proper role models and apparently it isn’t coming from where they live or an older adult relative.”
That would appear likely, yes. But again, I don’t see how we could know it to be the case. Unfortunately, sometimes even the best role models are not enough to stop a teenager who is determined and capable enough of taking a certain path from taking it. Surely you must realize this.
I certainly agree with you that crimes such as these cannot be tolerated. And that those who perpetrate them– regardless of what their racial makeup or identity happens to be— are quite appropriately referred-to as “thugs”, “punks” or any number of other epithets. (Though I would quibble that to call such individuals “animals” would be unfair to actual animals who, possessing no free will, cannot be blamed for any of the violence they commit.)
You have to be kidding if you consider them “Thugs in Training”. Their training period ended years ago; they’re well-accomplished, established, highly experienced professionals. In a few years, at most, they’ll have moved on to even bigger and better if they’re not stopped now. Long-term prison sentences (30 to 60 years minimum)or military service clearing mines and defusing bombs in combat areas or hunting down Boko Haram and ISIL would help get some of the still-learning Junior Thugs straightened out. The ones who won’t go straight – straight to Ossining with its river views for good
Any other parts of the U.S. Constitution we should shred?
b/c tossing teens in jail like that sounds problematic under the Eighth Amendment.
Here’s a solution…….increased “stop and frisk” enforcement.
How is that a solution? There’s not a single mention of any of these people being armed. Stop and frisk would have accomplished nothing in these cases.
It would make the upper class people feel safer and more in control. I swear if I hear one more mention of Stop and Frisk I’m going to lose it. It is NOT the solution.
And the problem with that is…
Yes, increased “stop and frisk” enforcement…followed by a nightstick to the head and handcuffs to the wrists.
If their families reside in public housing, kick them out. All of them.
Totally agree.
agree 100%
And salt their fields!
Their fields are already destitute. “And by their fruits you shall know them…”
“If their families reside in public housing, kick them out. All of them.”
How can you know that the families are to blame?
See my reply to “UWS Guy” above.
And take away their food stamps
And kick out their neighbors as well. Place them under positive peer pressure.
“Also, police now say that the suspects appear to be between 13 and 17 years old.”
Looks like they “forgot” a few more descriptions of the suspects…
Please elaborate!
Maybe the gang of kids are the Baseball Furies?
I do not believe many of these comments are by racists but by observant people. The solution is simple: build more jails! Bring back Stop and Frisk as these young people will end up being the ones carrying weapons in a few years.
We are “racists” why ?? Because we live in the real world ??
As I’ve been saying to those pointing to stale statistics. It takes time for de blasio’s policies and “influence” to penetrate and become perceptible in the data. Lets have a conversation in a year or two and we will see how much has really changed. Anecdotally of course, these types of serial crimes have been largely absent for the last 20 years. I’m not sure if the liberal tendency to tie cops hands behind their back when doing policing will work in city fraut with crime. If you are liberal looking to cling to liberal social policy, you might want to consider making some sacrifices in regards to policing to maintain other civili liberties that quality of life freedoms. There is a continuum of rights and protection baskets and its not a binary choice.
“Anecdotally of course, these types of serial crimes have been largely absent for the last 20 years.” This is not remotely true. At all. In any universe.
Anecdotes are definitionally a reflection of subjective cherry picked events . I’ve lived on e uws since 1986, and was mugged 6x as a youbgster from 1986-1993 and zero times from 1993-present. This is the basis of my anecdotal universe. You on the other hand are just someone who likes to say contrarian words in a satirical disrespectful tone which I suppose is the style of the times and medium.
Sure, “Lets have a conversation in a year or two” and give them enough time to build up their professional profiles. In a couple of years they’ll probably have victimized another couple hundred innocents of all ages and then we can figure what to do.
While it’s heartening to hear that the thieves were not successful in their attempt to rob someone of their rightful property, the victim acted most foolishly in resisting. He should have handed over the goods and then reported the crime as soon as he was safe. All the more so when outnumbered as he apparently was. Better to be humiliated and robbed but alive than a dead or even seriously injured hero. The boy was lucky (thankfully).
Same comment as above, essentially. Ignoring may not be as bad as actively attempting to resist or fight back but still constituted taking a great and unnecessary risk. The kid should have immediately handed-over whatever had been in his pockets, showing the attackers that they had no reason to resort to violence.
Regarding the news stand incident, imagine if at every such business and in every store, there was (or at least was likely to be) someone armed. If this was known, wouldn’t such knowledge likely deter at least many would-be robbers? (And certainly these kids.)
Ha gotta stand up and fight back.
The day that we do not stand up to these maggots is the day we lose the right to walk on our street as free and worry free tax payers.
Yes, we are the ones taking care of our elected officials through our tax paying money. And we take care of the police getting paid as well.
Even if at times we may lose a battle or two, the word will get out that a fight will break out, and that we are no longer are suckers, waiting to be robbed.
Teach your children well, but send them to karate, boxing, any self defense classes around.
The neck you save may be your own.
This is the most idiotic post I have seen on this site (which is a major accomplishment)! So if someone asks for your property you should just hand it over. These thugs will continue their behavior until someone stands up to them and gives them a beating. In the good old days, it would be their father but alas many of these punks don’t have a live in father.
I can tell you this, if one of these yutes ever tries this shit with me, they will get a beating to remember and I don’t care about their ages (frankly most cops will agree).
Amen brother!
“if one of these yutes ever tries this [feces] with me, they will get a beating to remember”
Assuming it would only be one of them, as you stated, then yes, fighting back might indeed be appropriate or at least not terribly imprudent. Especially if, as it would appear, your physical stature and build would be considerably more formidable than those of your attacker. From the descriptions of these incidents, however, we are talking about lone boys of 13 and in one case, 15, who were attacked or at least threatened by groups of youths, mobs, at least some of whom were as old as 17. Those are very different circumstances, are they not? In light of this, I do not see how encouraging the victims in these incidents, lone boys, most of whom were only 13, facing mobs of menacing youths, at least some of whom were older and almost certainly larger and stronger, to resist instead of capitulating could be considered responsible.
(And I would be rather surprised were any officer of the law to suggest otherwise.)
Again, I turn to a classic piece of doggerel that is quoted in Dale Carnegie’s signature work, How to Win Friends and Influence People:
Arm every private school kid and tell him to stand his ground. What we have here is a byproduct of gentrification. It is privilege versus the have nots. A working class hero is not something to be in Manhattan. Housing is cheap in Detroit. I hear all the artists are moving there.
Ya gotta stand up and fight back.
The day that we do not stand up to these maggots is the day we lose the right to walk on our street as worry free tax payers.
Yes, we are the ones taking care of our elected officials through our tax paying money. And we take care of the police getting paid as well.
Even if at times we may lose a battle or two, the word will get out that a fight will break out, and that we no longer are suckers, waiting to be robbed.
Teach your children well, but send them to karate, boxing, any self defense classes around.
The neck you save may be your own.
I don’t get it. This stuff happens every year when school lets out. Why is this year so special?
I hope these punks rob someone that fights back and they get what’s coming. More concealed weapons would be a win so citizens can protect themselves since the police have become too apathetic. Citizen policing may be necessary to protect our neighborhood.
Yes! The solution to these minor incidents would be a bystander pulling out a gun and shooting the perpetrators. If Americans have learned anything as a society, it is that nothing lowers crime like arming the populace.
800-577-TIPS (8477) or 911 or group citizens arrest
Military time here is annoying
Old women in purple elephant pants are also annoying.
First they take cell phones from prep school kids, next they start playing THE KNOCKOUT GAME! We are all doomed!
Bernhard Hugo Goetz (born November 7, 1947) is a New York City man known for shooting four young black men when they tried to mug him[2][3][4][5] on a New York City Subway train in Manhattan on December 22, 1984. He fired five shots, seriously wounding all four men. Nine days later he surrendered to police and was eventually charged with attempted murder, assault, reckless endangerment, and several firearms offenses. A jury found him not guilty of all charges except for one count of carrying an unlicensed firearm, for which he served eight months of a one-year sentence. In 1996, one of the shot men, who had been left paraplegic and brain damaged as a result of his injuries, obtained a civil judgment of $43 million against Goetz.[6]
If you’re going to plagiarize from Wikipedia, at least remove the footnotes.
Seriously, though: Are you suggesting a return to vigilante justice that permeated the city during the Koch era? (Not challenging, merely asking.)
I’m stating as a matter of stating. One can choose to agree or disagree. What I AM saying is these thugs may not know who their next victim will be. Could be an undercover cop for all they know.
You’re on to something! Bratton should deputize some 13 year old prep school students, so that if/when these roustabouts strike again they will be caught in the act!
It’s worth noting that the photo of this alleged perp is very clear and distinct, as is his jacket. The “community” knows exactly who he is, and they know his photo is out there. But as of yet, I haven’t heard of any arrests. How odd. I thought justice and rule of law were very important to this community…I mean, we keep hearing that over & over.
No Snitching
http://www.toledoblade.com/Op-Ed-Columns/2014/09/10/No-snitch-mentality-killing-black-community.html
how do you know he even lives on the UWS?
… and i thought you didn’t want to “make this about race.” posting that article sure seems to do so. as well as make an awful lot of assumptions.
Scott, you’re mistaken. The 2-4 precinct tweeted on Saturday morning that they’ve made several arrests here.
So they’ve made arrests. Does that include our ecstatic happy-go-lucky head puncher with the powder blue coat?
These animals do not belong in society. Sadly, they will only get worse, considering they are already this bad in their teens. The product of a “culture” that glorifies crime and bad behavior. And yes, I’m referring to the violent music and videos they listen to 24/7. At some point, it’s all they see and hear, and becomes something they aspire to be. I know the liberal loonies will slam me or call me racist or whatever. But go ahead, that’s exactly how people like Al Sharpton want you to react. Nobody is allowed to “tell it like it is” without being shouted down.
Careful there AnydNYC. Bruce B thinks anyone who refers to these thugs as Animals is using it as a a racial epithet. I know, he said that of me in a earlier post for a similar situation. The fact is and I agree with you, that these criminals in training have no positive role models. They listen this crap (I wouldn’t call it music) which glorifies the gangsta life and violence and anti cop etc.. Al Sharpton is to some in his community the same way that Yasir Arafat was to his. They encourage their support base to think of themselves as victims and they are entitled to be mad, upset and entitles. The message is not to find a way to better themselves (through education and earning a buck).
yes, of course “animals” and “the animals” are racial epithets used against African-Americans.
Mr. Bernstein,
Since you have not replied to the challenge I made to you in a previous thread regarding this claim and accusation of yours
( https://www.westsiderag.com/2015/02/10/police-step-up-patrols-after-students-are-mugged-in-the-west-90s#comment-260861 ) , I will repeat it here.
For the sake of argument, let us assume for the moment that all of the perpetrators in all of the crimes cited in this discussion were, in fact, racially identified as being Black (or “African American”, if that makes you happier).
Imagine that the exact same crimes would have occurred, every detail the same as it is now but with one key difference: the perpetrators, instead of being black, would have been white. Are you suggesting that, were that the case, that the same people who now call the perpetrators “animals” and “thugs” would not have done so had such individuals been white?
That is the clear, unambiguous implication of the accusations of “racism” that you made. Please elaborate and provide evidence for your implications and accusations. Without it, you are simply pointing fingers and calling names.
UWS Guy said:
“The fact is and I agree with you, that these criminals in training have no positive role models.”
Seriously? you think young African-Americans have “no positive role models”? what sort of bizarre world do you live in? i guess you haven’t noticed that the President and AG and Congressman are African-Americans, and you wish to ignore the dozens of African-American role models — educators, community leaders, their family members — that they come into contact with every day. And, yes, entertainers and athletes (or most of them).
the comments above have veered from trashing the young man in the photo to criticizing the entire African-American community. And please don’t try to pretend that this is not the “community” you are referring to.
when you look up definition of uws liberal…there is a pic of bruce bernstein
is that meant as a compliment or a put-down, Robert? i can’t really tell.
i’ll agree that many of my viewpoints are left of center. But there’s nothing that I said above that is left-of-center or should be remotely controversial and should not be acceptable to people of all viewpoints. what is controversial about asking people to stop using (repeatedly and, apparently in some cases, proudly) demeaning racially charged language?
definitely a put down bruce
Well said Bruce. No one is in favor of street muggings, obviously, but it’s depressing to see so much overreaction and latent racism stirred in. I think teens rich and poor do tend to get in fist fights or even commit low-level crimes. Lets advocate for rational consequences for unacceptable behavior without screaming to confiscate families’ homes or sending 13-year-olds to jail for 60 years.
“I think teens rich and poor do tend to get in fist fights or even commit low-level crimes.”
Here are some excerpts from the descriptions of the incidents in this blog post at the top of the page:
[bold-text emphases mine- Ind.]
Note that according to these descriptions, in each and every one of these incidents, the victims were just that: victims, who had not done anything to provoke being attacked.
You dismiss all of these actions as nothing more than “low-level crimes”?
“Fist fights”? Really? Doesn’t that imply a two-way altercation; one in which there was aggression exhibited by both parties?
In only one of these incidents is the victim described as even having so much as, “struggled with the suspects” — and that was after “the suspects approached him, grabbed his neck and demanded his cell phone.”
Wasn’t describing these incidents as fist fights, no. Let me quote what I said already: I am very sympathetic to the victims of these crimes, and very grateful to the cops for the work they do to catch the perps. There should be punishment. I haven’t argued for leniency.
By the way, not a lot of commenters here have expressed any concern for the victims. I wonder if we could do better with this.
agreed, DMH.
What you takin’ ’bout Willis? Different strokes for different folks.