Cops need the public’s help in finding two men who worked together to rob an 11-year-old boy of his cellphone in the Bronx earlier this week.
Police said the caper took place at 3:20 p.m. on Dec. 3 along East 189th Street between Arthur Avenue and Hoffman Street in Belmont.
According to law enforcement sources, the 11-year-old boy and his companion were walking through the area when the first suspect approached from behind and asked him for the time.
When the boy looked at his cellphone, authorities said, the perpetrator grabbed the phone, leading to a struggle. The suspect managed to wrest the phone away from the child, then fled the scene with a second man, whom police said acted as a lookout.
Police released on Dec. 6 the following video footage of the robbery. The first suspect is shown grabbing the victim’s cellphone, and the companion trying to intervene and stop it.
Both men were last seen heading westbound on East 189th Street, cops noted.
Officers from the 48th Precinct responded to the scene. The victim suffered minor arm pain, but refused medical attention.
Police described the first suspect as bald, adult male with a dark complexion, standing 5 feet, 8 inches tall, who was last seen wearing a black hooded ski jacket, a black hooded sweatshirt, black jeans and white sneakers.
The lookout was described as a 20-year-old man with a light complexion, standing 5 feet, 6 inches tall, with straight dark hair and a mustache. He was last seen wearing an olive-colored hooded ski jacket with black fur, a black t-shirt, blue jeans and black sneakers.
Anyone with information regarding their 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.
