Two individuals are currently being pursued by the NYPD for a pattern of robbery incidents that took place last month.
The NYPD is currently asking for the public’s assistance in identifying two males who were allegedly involved in two robbery-related incidents in the west Bronx in a three-day period back in early July.
The first incident occurred on Saturday, July 6 at approximately 7:15 p.m., when two males in their mid-20s were sitting in front of 2081 Morris Avenue, between East Burnside Avenue and East 181st Street, when two unidentified individuals, both males, approached them, displayed a firearm and demanded property.
The two victims complied and relinquished $200, jewelry and a cell phone. The armed individuals apparently then fled the location in a double-parked white Hyundai SUV on Morris Avenue. No injuries were reported as a result of this incident.
The second incident took place two days later at about 4:15 a.m. on Monday, July 8 at 23 E. Tremont Avenue, just two blocks south from the first incident and also within the confines of the 46th Precinct.
That morning, a 65-year old male was walking across the street when one of the individuals from the first incident grabbed the victim’s necklace and knocked him to the ground.
The victim initially held on to his necklace but relinquished it when the individual drew a firearm. The other individual also displayed a firearm while attempting to remove the victim’s necklace, but was unsuccessful.
The second individual then fired a shot at the victim but missed, before both of the individuals fled in the white Hyundai SUV in an unknown direction. The victim sustained minor cuts and bruises from falling on the pavement.
To add insult to injury, the two individuals were reported to have been involved in another robbery in Manhattan’s Hudson Heights just 20 minutes earlier. In that incident, the two men approached a 31-year old male and again displayed a firearm demanding property as he was walking in the lobby at 4395 Broadway.
The victim complied and the males fled the scene with $3,000, jewelry and a cell phone. No injuries were reported.
Community Board 5 chairman, Dr. Bola Omotosho, said that he was aware of the robbery pattern and that it is “a major concern for the neighborhood as well as the merchants in the area.” He added that an NYPD vehicle is frequently stationed on Jerome and West Burnside avenues to deter similar activities, as well as theft and looting from taking place.
The office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information also provided footage of the first scenario, which shows the two individuals jumping in the white Hyundai SUV after the incident. It is unknown if they were accompanied by other individuals in the vehicle. DCPI confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
The 46th Precinct did not return request for comment.
Anyone with information in regards to the identity of the two individuals is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or submit their tips at the Crime Stoppers website at www.nypdc
