What you should know
- Police are searching for two men in connection with at least eight violent pedestrian robberies in Brooklyn in recent months, attacks that put victims in chokeholds or in fear for their lives when they came face to face with knives, the police say. police.
- The duo, who have often been seen riding bicycles while committing their crimes, have not attacked more than twice in a month since their spree began in November, but have been consistent in the nature of their attacks, according to the police.
- Anyone with information is asked to contact police or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (English), or for Spanish at 1-888-57-PISTA.
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NEW YORK — Police are searching for two men in connection with at least eight violent pedestrian robberies in Brooklyn in recent months, attacks that put victims in chokeholds or in fear for their lives when they came face-to-face with knives, police say.
The duo, who have often been seen riding bicycles while committing their crimes, have not attacked more than twice in a month since their spree began in November, but have been consistent in the nature of their attacks, according to the police.
All the attacks have occurred in Bushwick. All targeted unsuspecting pedestrians at night. No injuries have been reported in any of the eight cases, but the manner of the attacks themselves is enough to give any New Yorker the shivers, and police released footage of one of the attacks that clearly shows why.
The most recent robbery was Monday, March 7, on Bleecker Street around 12:40 am, when police say the two suspects approached a 35-year-old man from behind. One pushed him to the ground while the other stole his phone and wallet. The two fled the scene in separate directions, one on a bicycle and the other on foot.
No injuries were reported in that case. The suspects beat up another victim about a week earlier, on Monday, February 28, authorities say. In that Linden Street attack around 8 pm, the same suspects approached behind a 36-year-old victim. One put him in a choke hold while the other stole his wallet, which had $300 in cash along with credit and debit cards and identification documents.
Again, the suspects fled in separate directions, one on a bicycle and the other on foot. No injuries were reported in that case, nor in an attack the day before around 9:40 pm on Harmen Street, police say. In that case, the suspects again attacked the victim, this time a 56-year-old man, from behind. One put him in a chokehold while the other stole his phone and wallet.
Both suspects fled the scene on bicycles at the time. Prior to the Feb. 27 case, the suspects were linked to a similar robbery on Jan. 23 on Irving Avenue. That happened just before midnight. One suspect grabbed a 32-year-old man by the neck while the other stole his phone and wallet. No injuries were reported.
That attack came about a month after one on Christmas Eve. In that case, police say the same suspects sneaked up behind a 35-year-old man on Stanhope Street around 1:20 a.m. One pulled his winter hat over his eyes while the other strangled him from behind. . His wallet was then stolen before he fled on his bike west toward Saint Nicholas Avenue. The victim was not injured.
Christmas Eve was the only day in the pattern that police say the suspects attacked twice. A 36-year-old individual was struck near Saint Nicholas Avenue and Harman Street about 40 minutes earlier. In that case, the two produced a knife and then stole the victim’s backpack, which contained about $1,000, a phone, headphones and other miscellaneous items. In that case, no injuries were reported.
The duo arrived at the same intersection five days earlier, around 12:30 a.m., police say. They approached a 30-year-old victim from behind her and told her they had a knife, then one suspect held the victim while the other stole her headphones and wallet. The two fled the scene on foot. No injuries were reported.
The first robbery in the pattern was on November 26, when police say the same suspects came up behind a 22-year-old on Hart Street around 11:20 p.m. One pushed him and held him to the ground, while the other stole his phone, headphones and wallet. It was an estimated $1,360 worth of property that was stolen.
Police released surveillance video of the suspects (above). Anyone with information is asked to contact police or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (English), or for Spanish at 1-888-57-PISTA.
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