NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – A man on a bicycle has robbed two people at gunpoint in Central Park in less than a week, police said Thursday as they released a sketch and surveillance image of a suspect.
The robberies were reported last Friday morning and this past Tuesday afternoon.
A 55-year-old man was robbed around 8:25 a.m. Friday in the park near E. 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue, police said.
The victim had walked into the park at W. 72nd Street and Central Park West when he encountered a man holding a sign that read, "Bike for sale $75."
The man asked the victim if he'd like to buy a bike. The victim declined and walked away.
Police said the victim walked further into the park and sat down on a bench near W. 72nd Street and Central Park West, where he noticed the man had been following him.
The man then came up, pulled out a black semiautomatic pistol and demanded money from the victim, police said.
The victim handed over $1,000, according to police. The robber took off on a black bicycle towards the Conservancy Pond.
NYPD
The robber struck again around 3:55 p.m. Tuesday. Police said a 67-year-old woman was walking on the west path near the Pond when she was approached by the man, who was riding a black bicycle.
The man stopped in front of the woman, pulled out a black semiautomatic pistol and said, "I need to take your purse," according to police.
The woman asked if she could keep her cell phone, to which the man answered, "No," police said.
The woman handed over her purse containing two credit cards, an iPhone, eye medication and $200.
The man rode off on the bicycle towards Fifth Avenue, police said.
The woman's iPhone was recovered by police near the scene using the "Find My iPhone" app.
No injuries were reported in either robbery.
The NYPD released a surveillance image and a sketch of the suspect Thursday.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
