Three Bronx street vendors are now scared to return to work after they said that three women robbed them while armed with a knife — and added that it wasn't just what they stole, but what they said, that hurts.
Police said the incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 12, where the two vendors had their street stand set up on River Avenue and East 157th Street in the Concourse section — just a stone's throw away from Yankee Stadium. The trio approached the men, yelling a series of racist slurs against Mexicans at them.
"'Go back to Mexico!' I don't say nothing, I don't do nothing," said one of the vendors, neither of whom wished to be identified.
In addition to the hateful remarks, the women punched the vendors and then pulled a knife, according to the victims. Police said that the suspects stole clothing and merchandise from the stand, items the men said they sell to support their families.
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"I'm working for my family. He's working for his family. And you know, it's very important for me and he," said one of the vendors.
The women stole hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise, the victims said, adding that they were speaking out before another vendor gets attacked, hurt or threatened.
"You don't know why they do it. Maybe cut my face," one of the vendors said.
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Police are investigating to see if the women, who were captured on video during the attack, are connected to any other crimes in the area.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips on the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or on Twitter @NYPDTips.
