By Gus Saltonstall
Two men sitting on a Central Park bench early Wednesday morning were robbed at knifepoint, a police spokesperson told West Side Rag.
The pair of 20-year-olds were sitting within the park near 64 Center Drive about 12:30 a.m., when a man walked up to them asking for the time and train schedule, police said.
The man then flashed a knife and demanded their wallets and phones, police added. Two other men then joined the robber, also carrying knifes, with one of the robbers yelling — “hurry up or I’ll cut you,” NYPD said.
The two 20-year-old men handed over their belongings, which included $950 worth of phones, wallets, debit cards, and passports, police said.
The trio of muggers then fled southbound, NYPD said.
Neither of the two victims were injured in the interaction, police added.
There are no arrests.
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While technically correct, 12:30 am is zero-dark-thirty…the middle of the night…not exactly “early morning” to most folks.
For the rest of us it is 12:30 am.
Nice homage to the movie though.
Something similar happened to me, it started with a girl approaching me and asking for the time and her male friends were just waiting to make their move. I was punched in the face because I only had a few singles on me. No phone, no purse or jewelry. I’ve seen many teen girls, and women, asking for help, money, food, in the Broadway/72nd St area but now I tend to walk away from everyone.
Glad that the trauma was “limited”, if that can ever be a consolation. It’s generally a good advice to never engage and to err on the side of extreme caution, especially if you don’t project an imposing physical presence. Many people would literally walk themselves into trouble out of fear of being perceived as “impolite,” and refusing to listen to their gut in questionable situations.
Chasing someone who’s briskly walking away also looks completely different to bystanders, compared with surreptitiously threatening someone who has stopped and you’re seemingly just having a conversation with.
The chances that someone needs the time (a cigarette, directions, etc.) that badly and doesn’t have a phone, a watch, other resources, etc. – or needs real help from a complete stranger in a residential neighborhood – are slim to none.
Thank you. All good points! I do remember thinking, when was the last time I heard anyone ask for the time, but by then it was too late. I definitely don’t feel as comfortable walking around the neighborhood as I did pre-Covid.
..Could have something to do with the scaffolding on every single block on the UWS! Dark and dismal and certainly should be removed!
Meanwhile.. If you’re walking around in a crowded neighborhood it seems difficult to believe that there is an abundance of crime and violence?
Perhaps sitting in the park ain’t a great idea in the middle of the night however! Sorry this happened to the two 21 year olds..
I was mentioning to a friend when I was walking up Amsterdam from 79th to 86th that most of the scaffolding has been removed on Amsterdam and if you look at Broadway too, lots have come down. Just saying….
I was attacked in CP at 8:30pm a few months ago. Maybe I was just lucky and naive for too long, but I used to feel safe and free to walk as I pleased. Haven’t entered the park after dark since. I’ve always been independent and hate feeling like I need a chaperone. Makes me angry.
Silence from our elected representatives. Classic.
Tourists, I’m guessing, if they were carrying passports. Too bad! Glad they were uninjured.
Wish it were much safer, but bench sitting at zero-dark-thirty is sadly inadvisable. Wouldn’t it be great if it weren’t?
I KNOW IT DOESN’T MAKE PARK GOERS HAPPY – BUT “DARK” HAS NEVER BEEN A GREAT TIME TO BE IN THE PARK… ESPECIALLY WITHOUT A BIG DOG…
I had a lovely young gentleman on Columbus and 88th ask for money about a month ago. When I said no he started following behind me and asking why not? I finally said because I don’t feel like it. He said what, so I repeated it louder. He promised to punch me in the face the next time he saw me and took off.
I was once followed down a block and into a CVS at night by a homeless woman I ignored. She kept asking, “Can you spare a dollar? Can you spare a dollar?” CVS security were useless. In the middle of a CVS aisle, I finally turned and yelled, “No!” She said, “OK, thank you.” And left.
I understand that as a person experiencing homelessness and spending time asking strangers for money, she probably feels invisible much of the time which is just one of the many tragic aspects of her situation.
But also , people have a right to choose what interactions they will have and when. Nobody has a right to demand or force an interaction.
Lucky you got away with your life.
Honestly, I was fed up and prepared to fight at that point if I had to. I realize that’s an option not everyone has. I’m over six feet and the guy was bigger and younger than me, but it was a busy weekend and there were a lot of people around and I figured I could hold my own until the police arrived. I finally turned to him and said “because I don’t want to.” Twice. I was relieved when he ran off. I’ve seen Curtis Sliwa on that corner before, maybe that was my inspiration.
I had a similar situation, though he asked me if I’d have a different response if he took out a gun and blew my brains out. Just awful and no one seems to care about the way things are going and folks not feeling safe.
Scariest question anyone can ask you on the street is “do you have the time?”
I don’t disagree, but I actually very recently had an older lady ask me at a street corner uptown, might have been waiting for a bus. I was aware of my surroundings and happened to be wearing a watch which is unusual for me, so obliged her as I was passing by. Legit, but a good reminder that there’s no shame in keeping your head down these days, especially as a woman. But I would add not to look too meek while doing so, a little body attitude and projecting that you are very aware while going about your business can sometimes be a deterrent.
Hanging out in in the middle of Central Park on a dark part at midnight wasn’t a good idea, ever.
2000-2020, Central Park at night seemed safe enough. Never encountered a problem–walking alone, walking the dog, running, just passing through.
2021, COVID, protests, Bragg — game changed. Makes Manhattan and the UWS a lot less appealing place to live.
And visit. The passports make it seem like these kids were likely foreign tourists.
When NYC fully returns to its former reputation as a dangerous place to live or visit, it will be a big, slow ship to turn around. Maybe not there yet, but arriving quickly
Sadly, the first step will be to oust current the current plague of parasite office holders (Hochul, Adams, Bragg, Brewer, et al, and especially DiBlasio before them) and replace them all with serious-minded public servants intent on making New York safe and livable for ALL constituents, not just their favored niche miscreant populations.