The NYPD is ramping up their presence in Central Park following a recent uptick in crime including four robberies in just three days.
Advertisement
According to the New York Post, the first of four incidents occurred just after 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 25 when a perpetrator grabbed a 28-year-old woman and demanded, “Give me your phone, give me your wallet, give me sex,” near W. 97th St. and West Drive. The assailant then punched the victim and took her iPhone 11.
On Friday morning, a 42-year-old man was beaten and robbed at gunpoint as he was taking pictures near the southeast corner of the park at E. 59th St. and East Drive. The incident occurred just after 6am and left the victim with facial injuries.
Then on Friday evening, two teenagers unsuccessfully attempted to rob 25-year-old Ashikur Chowdhury, an Upper East Side kindergarten teacher, near 110th St. and East Drive. Chowdhury reportedly fought back, telling one of the armed teens, “You’re going to shoot me over a phone?…You don’t have the balls to shoot me.”
“There are additional patrols being conducted in the park following the incidents,” an NYPD spokesperson told NBC New York. No details were shared on exactly what areas of the park would be in focus, or just how many additional police officers would be present.
An additional incident occurred Saturday when a 46-year-old man had a bag of camera equipment stolen near E. 74th St. and East Drive. Gothamist reports that no arrests have been made for any of the four robberies.
The recent robberies represent a dramatic uptick in crime in Central Park. Citing NYPD data, Gothamist says that there were ten reported incidents of robbery in the park from January to April, not including the four between April 25-27. There were only two reported robberies in that same time span a year ago.
Thanks for continuing to allow reader feedback, while Patch for months has blocked it with a BS announcement that it is “working to make improvements.”
Do yourself a favor and carry pepper spray while traversing the city.