Detectives have found a break in a months-long investigation into an ongoing robbery pattern near the Bronx’s Mullaly Park.
The NYPD released on Thursday video of an individual wanted for questioning in the pattern, in which up to four robbers mugged male victims on the street and stole their belongings. All four incidents occurred within the 44th Precinct’s confines.
Cops said the first incident took place at 4 p.m. on Nov. 19, 2019 at the corner of River Avenue and East 164th Street, just steps from Yankee Stadium.
According to authorities, four robbers approached a 17-year-old man and punched him in the face, knocking the victim’s headphones off his ears. They then grabbed the victim’s headphones and fled from the scene.
Police noted that the victim suffered a head laceration and a contusion, but declined medical attention.
The second mugging occurred at 7:50 p.m. on Dec. 3 at the corner of Jerome Avenue and East 165th Street.
Law enforcement sources said an unknown suspect approached a 36-year-old man who was exiting from a nearby vehicle. The perpetrator pressed a hard object against the victim’s back and demanded the bag he was holding.
According to cops, the victim handed over the bag to the thief, who then reached into the victim’s pants pocket and removed his cellphone and wallet. The crook then took off into Mullaly Park.
The following day, police said, three bandits connected to the pattern robbed a 48-year-old man at the corner of Jerome Avenue and East 165th Street at 8 p.m. on Dec. 4.
Cops said the trio punched the victim in the face and back of his head, then removed from him various plumbing supplies, books and a pair of gloves. The suspects fled in an unknown direction.
The victim suffered minor injuries, but refused medical attention, police noted.
Finally, four suspects connected to the pattern attacked and robbed a 16-year-old boy in front of an apartment building on Jerome Avenue near East 166th Street at 4:40 p.m. on Jan. 4.
According to police, the suspects punched and kicked the teenager, then struck him with a firearm. They then removed the youth’s cellphone and fled the scene. The victim suffered a head laceration, but also refused medical help.
The NYPD said the video obtained showed one of the suspects a few moments before the Jan. 4 mugging.
Anyone with information regarding the pattern or the suspect’s whereabouts can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA), visit the Crime Stoppers website or send a direct message on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
