A new neighborhood policing program is being credited in part for the arrests of a group of teens who allegedly attacked and robbed a woman on the street in Brooklyn.
Exclusive video obtained by NBC 4 New York shows teenagers surrounding a 51-year-old woman in Brooklyn, then shoving and attacking her. They then stick a gun in her mouth before pistol-whipping her and stealing her purse.
Neighbor Armando Goodwin knows the victim, and he's angry about what happened just steps from his home.
"She had a black eye and she was kind of hurt," he said. "One guy grabbed her around the neck and the other guy just came and hit her."
A man who asked for his identity to be withheld said he saw the attack happen. He called 911 then rushed to help.
"I had to react quick. I heard screaming," he said. "I felt bad, she was just running around crying so I was like 'I have to go back around and help the lady'. I was afraid for her so I had to do whaqt I had to do."
The NYPD turned to its new neighborhood policing program. Officers spotted the teens, who should have been in school, followed them to a home, then found the weapon used in the attack.
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Sources tell News 4 the woman is physically fine. Police have arrested the suspects and say the ringleader is a 16-year-old who's now facing charges.