NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — Police have connected two suspects to a series of robberies that occurred over the last two months in and around a Bronx park, and released images of the alleged thieves on Thursday night to help in their investigation.
In each of the instances—all within or in the vicinity of Soundview Park in Clason Point—the suspects put a victim under duress before making off with their cellphone, police said.
No injuries were reported in relation to the first three robberies, but in the most recent attack, the perpetrators brutally assaulted the 17-year-old boy they allegedly robbed.
At 3:40 p.m. on March 8, the victim was in Soundview Park when three strangers approached him and struck up a conversation.
The trio demanded the teen's cellphone while displaying knives and box cutters before turning physical. The suspects punched the 17-year-old repeatedly in the face and head before snatching the device and running off in an unknown direction.
The victim refused medical attention on the scene, officials said.
The first robbery in the spree occurred on Jan. 27 at about 3:30 p.m. in Soundview Park, when two strangers approached another 17-year-old boy and told him to hand over his cellphone.
At the time of the demand, one suspect produced a hard object to simulate a gun, police said. The suspects grabbed the phone and fled in an unknown direction.
A week later, two more back-to-back robberies were committed.
On Feb. 2 at about 3 p.m. in Soundview Park, two suspects approached a 19-year-old victim who had his cellphone and bicycle with him.
Police said that one of the suspects displayed a knife before removing both the device and bike. The duo fled in an unknown direction.
Just over 24 hours later, at 5 p.m. on Feb. 3, three strangers in ski masks approached a 50-year-old man at the intersection of Metcalf Avenue and Seward Avenue, near Soundview Park.
The trio snatched the victim's cellphone out of his hand before running off toward Seward Avenue, authorities said.
Police said that the media depicting the two suspects was obtained from the Feb. 2 incident. At least one other suspect has yet to be identified.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
