Police are looking for two teenagers in connection with a string of violent robberies and attempted robberies in and around an upper Manhattan park over the last few months.
In the first robbery attempt, on March 25, the suspects approached a 25-year-old woman as she was leaving Morningside Park, police said. The suspects tried to take her purse but she resisted, and they fled, according to authorities.
Two days later, the suspects approached a 32-year-old woman who was sitting on a bench just outside the park at Morningside Drive and West 120th Street, police said. The suspect punched the victim in the head and took her iPhone, according to police.
On April 1, the suspects struck again, walking up to a 23-year-old man and a 22-year old woman on the sidewalk by Morningside Avenue and West 114th Street, police said. One of the suspects threw the male victim to the ground and demanded his phone while the other suspect threatened to shoot both of them, simulating a firearm, authorities said. The suspects fled with two iPhones, a bag, credit cards and $100 in cash, according to police.
Three weeks later, on April 23, the suspects robbed another victim -- a 22-year-old man on the sidewalk by Morningside Drive and West 113th Street as he was walking to the subway at West 125th Street, police said. The suspects punched the victim in the side of the face and took his iPhone and wallet, containing credit cards and $10 in cash, police said.
The suspects tried to rob another man May 1, pointing a gun at the 22-year-old near Morningside Drive and West 120th Street, police said. The suspects tried to take the man’s bag, but were unable to, police said. One suspect was seen running away through Morningside Park.
The most recent robbery in the pattern was May 2, when police said the suspects approached two 28-year-old male and female victims inside Morningside Park near West 114th Street. One suspect placed the man in a chokehold and demanded property from both victims, police said.
The suspects took a cellphone, two bags and a wallet containing credit cards, police said. The woman’s bag was later found, according to police.
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No victims required treatment for any injuries.
Police released photos of the suspects.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS.
