NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – At least two visitors to Central Park have had their cameras stolen—one right out of his hand—by a sticky-fingered suspect, police said Friday.
The NYPD released images of the male they're searching for in at least two thefts inside the park over the past week. One photo appears to show the suspect with some of the loot.
The thief first hit around 2:20 p.m. last Friday, when a 34-year-old woman was using her camera and tripod around West Drive and Terrace Drive, between Sheep Meadow and Cherry Hill.
The suspect snatched the camera equipment when she was distracted, police said.
He allegedly struck again last Saturday afternoon, this time further north in the park near Belvedere Castle.
A 73-year-old man was using his camera at West Drive and the 79th Street Transverse around 1:30 p.m. when the suspect grabbed the camera right out of his hand and fled, according to cops. The victim wasn't injured.
The NYPD announced weeks ago that it had upped patrols in Central Park amid an uptick in crimes like robberies and phone-snatchings.
In one case, a robber sexually assaulted a 28-year-old woman, allegedly telling her, "I'm going to take sex, I'm going to take money and I'm going to take your phone." A suspect was arrested days later.
In another case, a trio of serial thieves on scooters pointed a gun with a laser sight at a tourist while stealing his phones, police said. They remained at large at last check.
The NYPD also recently warned about a scam in which thieves masquerading as basketball fundraisers in Central Park and elsewhere in Manhattan try to steal money via victims' cash apps like Venmo, Zelle and Apple Pay.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.