January 27, 2021
NEW YORK—A trio is currently wanted by police in connection with a string of violent robberies inside and near a sprawling Queens park. The area is heavily populated with Asian-Americans, according to CBS New York.
Investigators say within this month the trio assaulted people and took their belongings, most often in the middle of the day, according to CBS New York.
- Police said at around lunchtime on Jan. 8, at the corner of Oak Avenue and Colden Street, a 21-year-old woman had her phone grabbed out of her hand by the suspects.
The violence escalated three days later, when police said the teens struck again closer to dinnertime.
- It happened along a path, where a 58-year-old man was punched in the face and robbed of his wallet.
- Police said the teens returned to the same interior park location near 56th Road and 146th Street in the midday hours of Jan. 15, first assaulting a 59-year-old man and taking his wallet, and soon after robbing an 18-year-old of his wallet.
After the first incident the suspects were seen driving away in a gold-colored sedan.
And police said a victim’s credit card was used at a nearby pizza place on Jan. 16.
CBS New York’s Dave Carlin interviewed some residents who said they like the path for exercise and to use it as a shortcut, but now they avoid it.
“I’m scared. I don’t wanna go. I go the other way,” one woman said.
“My mom does use that path, just not at night,” Flushing resident Yi Yan added.
Residents have been reminded that the crimes took place in daytime hours three out of the four times, and police want everyone to be on the lookout for the three suspects, described as at least 16, but no more than 19 years old.
“Awareness is always good, especially for keeping communities safe,” resident Roger Tano said.
Police said one teen had on a dark-colored hoodie with white and red lettering on it, jeans and white sneakers.
Another wore a pink hoodie with a black jacket over the top, with black pants and sneakers.
The third had on a puffy blue coat.
Anyone who has information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-8477 or for Spanish, 1-888-577-4782. Tips can also be sent to the NYPDTips Twitter account or submitted online at NYPDCrimeStoppers.com.
Feature Screenshot via CBS New York