NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Two moped-riding robbers are wanted by the NYPD for attacking pedestrians across Manhattan in December. Police released photos of the suspects on Wednesday to help in their investigation.
In all five of the incidents, the suspects followed the same MO: They approached their victim on a dark colored moped, and removed (or attempted to remove) the victim's wallet, purse or bag before fleeing the scene, authorities said.
Police said that the first incident occurred at around 8:40 p.m. on Dec. 15, near First Avenue and 52nd Street in Midtown.
The robbery duo forcibly removed a 38-year-old woman's purse, causing her to fall to the ground.
She sustained minor injuries and was treated on the scene by EMS, officials said.
The other four incidents happened within hours of each other on Dec. 18, with the first robbery of the day occurring in Morningside Heights at 7:40 p.m.; the second in Hell's Kitchen at 8:40 p.m.; the third in Lenox Hill at 9:38 p.m.; and the fourth in Midtown at 10:10 p.m., police said.
The first victim was a 37-year-old man, and the robbers attempted to forcibly remove his bag from his shoulder before fleeing, officials said.
Police said the second victim was a 22-year-old woman who had her wallet stolen, and the third victim was a 28-year-old woman who had her purse stolen.
There were no injuries in either of those incidents.
The final victim was a 40-year-old woman, who had her purse yanked off her shoulder, causing her to fall to the ground and sustain minor injuries, police said.
This victim was treated by EMS on the scene.
Photos released by police show the victims in the vicinity of the Morningside Heights and Hell's Kitchen robberies, officials said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
