Teen Thieves Attack Newsstand Workers, Steal Candy and Cash: Police

A group of teen thieves tried to steal candy and cash from at least five different newsstands in Midtown — punching newsstand workers during two of the thefts, police say.

The teens went up to a newsstand near West 38th Street and Sixth Avenue around 4:50 p.m. on Jan. 18 and punched a 25-year-old worker in the face before fleeing the scene, the NYPD said.

The worker was taken to the hospital, where he was treated for a cut to his face, police said.

The next day, the same group of teens stole candy and around $200 in cash from a newsstand near West 48th Street and Broadway just after 5 p.m., according to police.

Less than an hour later, the teens stole candy from a newsstand near West 55th Street and Sixth Avenue, police said. When a worker tried to chase them down, another teen went into the newsstand and stole around $475 in cash.

On Jan. 20, the teens struck again, stealing candy from a newsstand near West 34th Street and Sixth Avenue, the NYPD said. When a worker tried to stop them, they punched him in the face.

The worker was treated for an injured finger and a swollen head, police said. The teens also made off with an unspecified amount of cash.

The teens tried to rob a newsstand near West 57th Street and Eighth Avenue a few days later, but ran off after an employee started yelling at them, police said.

On Wednesday, they stole food from a newsstand near West 38th Street and and Sixth Avenue, the NYPD said.

The same group of teens also tried to steal a 39-year-old woman’s cell phone in front of a building on West 57th Street on Jan. 15, punching her in the face during the attempted theft, police said.

Police didn’t immediately release photos of the suspects, but said they were wearing sweatshirts during the thefts.