Police are on the lookout for the individuals they say are behind at least 18 pickpocket robberies in Bryant Park in a span of less than two weeks.
The individuals' spree started in late November, with incidents still reported as recent as last week.
According to police, the individuals' MO is pretty consistent, with an unidentified individual bumping into a targeted victim and stealing either their phone, credit card or MetroCard, or a combination of the three, without their knowledge.
"People use their phones constantly so it’s not hard to see somebody with a new phone," said Kevin Ward, Vice President of Security for Bryant Park. "They’re mostly looking for people who put a bag down, someone puts a bag on the back of a chair and then the bag just disappears. They distract you then take the bag."
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The NYPD reports that on Nov. 20 one of these incidents occurred, followed by four on Nov. 24, two on Nov. 25, one on Nov. 28, another on Dec. 1, two the following day and a whopping seven incidents were reported on Dec. 3.
The incidents took place at all hours of the day, with victims' ages ranging from 18 to 67 years old.
Police released a photo of the individuals allegedly involved in the incident that took place on Nov. 20.
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Police ask anyone with information in regard to these incidents is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
