By Gus Saltonstall
Four gunpoint robberies took place Thursday night in Central Park, a police spokesperson told West Side Rag.
In all four incidents, a group of three men approached the victims and flashed a gun before fleeing on a bike, NYPD said. All the muggings took place along East Drive.
The spree began around 8:40 p.m. near East Drive and 79th Street, when three men threatened a 28-year-old man with a gun and grabbed his cell phone, police said. The trio then fled on one bike, NYPD added.
Around 50 minutes later at 9:30 p.m., the three men approached a 46-year-old man near East Drive and 109th Street, and once again flashed a gun and took his cell phone, police said. The trio fled on one bike once more.
Then at 9:45 p.m., the three men threatened a 22-year-old man and 20-year-old woman with a gun near East Drive and 106th Street, police said. They took both the victims’ cell phones and fled on a bike. While police responded to the scene, two 43-year-old men approached the officers and told them that they had also been robbed at gunpoint nearby by three men with a gun, NYPD said.
There were no injuries in any of the robberies, police added. Police did not provide a description of the suspects.
There are no arrests, and the investigation remains ongoing, NYPD said.
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Where is a description of the perpetrators?
It must have been too dark to see them.
More likely it would be politically incorrect to report that information
They were slim enough to fit three of them on one bike
There are not enough cops, lights, cameras in the upper part of the Park.
There’s also no daylight at 8:30pm. STAY OIT OF PARKS AFTER DARK! Why is this so difficult?!
Defeatist blaming the victim response. Surely the taxes paid should be sufficient to keep the city safe particularly a fantastic place like Central Park.
Is the same attitude to crime that requires toothpaste to be locked up at in the Pharmacy
yeah, give in to the fact that criminals rule the park after dark. The government has more important things to do than protect your freedom of movement and prevent crime.
Um, maybe bc there was a concert at the Summerstage that very night.
No signs. Darkness going home. Need for ppl to use phones to see maps or sometimes even paths.
No, I will not cede any public land to criminals. This is our park not theirs. If they take my phone I will give it freely but I will also give the most detailed description to NYPD so they can be hunted down. These people need to be stopped and ceding the ground is the exact opposite of how every proud New Yorker should react.
What do you mean ” These people”?
Criminals. I thought that was clear…
These people = criminals. It’s right there in his statememt.
You must be new to the city.
Mike’s right!
Nope. I love the park at night. Have been strolling through it for a decade with no issues. It’s peaceful and beautiful. The reality is that despite headlines like this, this type of thing remains rare, and certainly far more rare than it was decades ago.
I used to feel safe going anywhere at any time but then I got attacked in Central Park 2 years ago at 8:30pm. I was going up to the reservoir to see the beautiful skyline view. So I have altered my behavior, which makes me angry that I feel I have to do that.
That’s fair. And I’m not blaming you for this at all. But I also think that a lot of people also don’t stay alert and aware of their surroundings which also isn’t helpful.
Agreed. Terrible outcome.
Not enough jail space!
The escapes on one bike make this NYC comedy gold.
Circus bike.
1. Description of the perpetrators would be very helpful. People of all sizes, shapes, colors, hairstyles, etc. commit crimes. Stating these characteristics makes it easier to identify them. It does not make one racist, sexist, ableist, or any of the other ists to mention them.
2. I hate to victim blame and it is horrible that it has come to this, but I would stay out of the park at night.
3. Police cannot be everywhere. It is just not possible. Perhaps if there were more then the probability of them being nearby is greater, but people expecting this to be a magic solution are deluded.
4. Having meaningful punishment for these types of crimes and making it well known that these punishments will be enforced and not watered down for those found guilty is a meaningful deterrent. With escalating penalties for repeat offenders. It will not reduce crime to zero but it might make someone think twice.
G-d forbid we should perp-blame.
Gun point robbery!
This is more than the old fashioned strong armed mugging.
Crime is down unless you are the victim.
Be careful out there!
Actually, this is exactly what mugging is.
Mugging is a strong arm robbery, smash and grab.
This is robbery at gun point. Threat of deadly force.
Safest neighborhood in America!
“While responding to the scene, two 43-year-old men went up to police officers and told them that they had also been robbed…”
Why were the two 43-year-old men “responding to the [crime] scene”?? Were they off-duty police, or just curious spectators?
The police were responding and the two 43 year olds went up to them.
Someday, people will learn not to walk around the park once it’s dark, and it’s mostly deserted.
It’s really mind-boggling. And then I remember that common sense is clearly a super power…
Yeah, that’s the problem. Not criminals, stupid victims are.
Bikes or one bike?
E-bike or old style? E bikes should banned from the park
Would it have been more acceptable if the robbers had been riding “old style” bikes?
And we have a Mayor who is anti-cop. Who’d’ve thunk it??
Even if caught, they’ll be out in time for dinner.
Guns are illegal in NYC, how could this happen?
Plus, there are signs in Central Park declaring it a gun-free zone.
I am perplexed also on this occurrence.
Lots of times I see teenagers on bikes with face coverings and it’s obvious they are up to no good. And make descriptions difficult.
I don’t understand why someone has to use a gun to steal someone’s cell phone, when there are thousands of idiots walking around with their phones sticking out of their back pockets.
Thinking you are safe in NYC is a delusion. It’s just a numbers game and the numbers are on your side.
So either the police refused to give a description of the perpetrators (which is most offensive and would be bad police work) or WSR did (which would be bad reporting). Which is it?
We need to deploy New York’s intrepid squad of tax-funded violence interrupters, full force. Any of you ever spot a violence interrupter actually interrupt anything?