Police are looking for two men in connection with at least eight violent robberies of pedestrians in Brooklyn over the last few months -- attacks that put victims in chokeholds or in fear for their lives as they came face to face with knives, cops say.
The two, who have often been seen riding bicycles while committing their crimes, haven't hit more than twice in any month since their spree started in November, but they've been consistent in the nature of their attacks, according to police.
All of the attacks have happened in Bushwick. All have targeted unsuspecting pedestrians at night. No injuries have been reported in any of the eight cases, but the manner of the attacks themselves are enough to give any New Yorker the chills -- and police released footage of one of the attacks that clearly shows why.
The most recent robbery was Monday, March 7, on Bleecker Street around 12:40 a.m., when cops say the two suspects approached a 35-year-old man from behind. One pushed him to the ground while the other stole his phone and wallet. The two fled the scene in separate directions, one of them on a bike and the other on foot.
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No injuries were reported in that case. The suspects hit another victim about a week earlier, on Monday, Feb. 28, authorities say. In that Linden Street attack around 8 p.m., the same suspects sneaked up behind a 36-year-old victim. One put him in a chokehold while the other stole his wallet, which had $300 cash in it along with credit and debit cards and identification documents.
Again, the suspects fled in separate directions, one on a bike and the other on foot. No injuries were reported in that case either -- nor were any reported in an attack the day prior -- around 9:40 p.m. on Harmen Street, police say. In that case the suspects again attacked the victim -- this time a 56-year-old man -- from behind. One put him in a chokehold while the other stole his phone and wallet.
Both suspects fled the scene on bikes that time. Prior to the Feb. 27 case, the suspects were linked to a similar robbery on Jan. 23 on Irving Avenue. That one happened shortly before midnight. A 32-year-old man was grabbed by the throat by one suspect while the other stole his phone and wallet. No injuries were reported.
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That attack came roughly a month after one on Christmas Eve. In that case, cops say the same suspects sneaked up behind a 35-year-old man on Stanhope Street around 1:20 a.m. One pulled his winter hat over his eyes while the other put him in a chokehold from behind. They then stole his wallet before fleeing west toward Saint Nicholas Avenue on bicycles. The victim wasn't hurt.
Christmas Eve was the only day in the pattern where cops say the suspects attacked twice. They hit a 36-year-old target near Saint Nicholas Avenue and Harman Street about 40 minutes earlier. In that case, the two showed a knife, then stole the victim's backpack, which had about $1,000, a phone, headphones and other miscellaneous items. No injuries were reported in that case either.
The pair hit the same intersection five days earlier, around 12:30 a.m., police say. They approached a 30-year-old victim from behind and said they had a knife, then one suspect held the victim while the other stole his headphones and wallet. The two fled the scene on foot. No injuries were reported.
The first robbery in the pattern dates back to Nov. 26, when police say the same suspects sneaked up behind a 22-year-old on Hart Street around 11:20 p.m. One pushed him and held him on the ground, while the other stole his phone, headphones and wallet. It was an estimated $1,360 in property that was stolen.
Police released surveillance video of the suspects (above). Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
