NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — The NYPD released photos on Tuesday asking for the public's help to identify a group of five suspects wanted in connection with a violent string of attempted robberies that left two people injured in Washington Heights earlier this month.
Both incidents occurred within a span of less than three hours on Thursday, May 7. According to officials, the suspects targeted victims near West 186th Street and Laurel Hill Terrace, using knives and physical violence in an attempt to steal cellphones.
The first attack took place at approximately 3:20 p.m., when a 21-year-old man was approached by the crew who forcibly snatched his cellphone from his hand. The victim confronted the group and managed to retrieve his phone but one suspect slashed him with a knife while the other four punched and kicked him before fleeing westbound on foot on West 187th Street, authorities said.
EMS treated the victim for his injuries on the scene.
Just over two hours later, at approximately 5:43 p.m., a 44-year-old woman was approached from behind by two individuals from the group at the exact same intersection.
One suspect brandished a knife and ripped her phone from her hand, while the second suspect punched her multiple times, police said. The victim was able to retrieve her phone, and the individuals fled the location on foot northbound on Amsterdam Avenue. EMS responded and transported the victim to New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center in stable condition.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.
