PHOTO: According to investigators, the duo has struck at least 14 times in Richmond Hill, Jamaica, and other borough neighborhoods. Courtesy of NYPD
By Michael V. Cusenza
Police last week reached out to the public for help in tracking down a dangerous duo they believe are responsible for a spate of more than a dozen gunpoint robberies over the past five weeks in Richmond Hill, Jamaica, and other borough communities.
Cops described the assailants as two black men in their 20s wearing hooded sweatshirts. In each of the 14 incidents, the suspects approach the victims—many of whom were passengers who just exited taxis or livery cabs—on the street, pull out a gun, demand money and valuables, then flee on foot with the fast cash, credit cards, and cell phones.
And the assaults have proven lucrative.
In the most recent robbery on record, on Monday, April 11, around 1:15 a.m., the perpetrators pounced on a 43-year-old man on 97th Avenue in South Richmond Hill, making off with $1,100 in cash, a phone, and credit cards.
On Thursday, March 10, at approximately 5:15 a.m., the pair pillaged a 22-year-old man’s pockets, fleeing with $1,000, two phones, and credit cards.
Less than a week later, on Wednesday, March 16, around 2 a.m., the duo took $700 cash, a phone, and credit cards off a 40-year-old man at the intersection of 118th Street and 89th Avenue in Richmond Hill.
Five of the attacks occurred within the confines of the 102nd Precinct. The rest were spread out over the 103, 105, and 107. All 14 victims are men ranging in age from 22 to 58.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at (800) 577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit info by logging onto NYPDCrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All correspondences are strictly confidential.
michael@theforumnewsgroup.com
