NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Police are investigating nine robberies of Manhattan newsstands and other street vendors that have occurred since New Year’s Day, and released photos on Saturday of four wanted suspects.
The robberies have all occurred between Jan. 1 and Jan. 11, and each crime was committed between 4:12 p.m. and 8:35 p.m.
Most of the crimes happened in Midtown, excluding the fourth incident which was in the Upper East Side, and the seventh and eighth incidents which were in the Financial District, police said.
Newsstands were the target of seven of the robberies, excluding the fourth incident which happened at a food truck, and the fifth incident, which happened at a concession stand.
In each robbery, two or three perpetrators approached the business operator, and either pushed down, punched, or displayed a knife to the worker before forcibly removing their property or the property of the business, officials said.
Minor injuries were reported in four of the robberies, two of which resulted in the victim being transferred to an area hospital for treatment, police said.
The age of the victims ranged from 27 to 70. Seven of the victims were men, and two were women, police said.
In addition to one cell phone, pair of headphones, debit card and purse, the thieves stole $15,270 across the nine robberies.
The wanted men are depicted in photos provided by the NYPD, and all were last seen in dark clothing.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.