Police Seek Suspects In Rich. Hill Robberies
A group of teenagers behind several recent attempts to rob riders on board J trains in Richmond Hill remains at large, according to police.
Reportedly, the first attempted robbery occurred at 2:04 a.m. on Jan. 9onboardaJtrainapproachingthe 104th Street station on the elevated line above Jamaica Avenue.
Law enforcement sources said one of the three suspects punched a 22-year-old man in the face. After striking the victim, it was reported, the assailant and two cohorts went through the victim’s pockets, but took nothing.
They then fled from the scene, police said. The victim was not seriously injured and did not require hospitalization, it was noted.
Authorities said the second train robbery attempt occurred three days later on Jan. 12 at 6:40 p.m. on board a J train approaching the 121st Street station.
Reportedly, the three suspects approached a female passenger, and one of the crooks swiped an iPhone5 right out of her hand and fled the location.
Four days later, police noted, the crooks struck again in a similar manner at 10:25 p.m. on Jan. 16 on boardaJtrainasitnearedthe111th Street station.
The crooks snatched an iPhone 4S out of the hand of a 26-year-old woman, then fled from the scene.
Each of the robberies was reported to the 102nd Precinct and the NYPD Transit Bureau.
Police described the three suspects as three black males in their teens standing between 5’6″- and 5’10”-tall. The NYPD released images of the perpetrators captured by a nearby security camer after the Jan. 12 robbery.
According to authorities, one of the suspects was spotted wearing a red winter jacket, dark pants and dark shoes, while the second crook was observed wearing dark clothing. The the third suspect, police said, was last seen wearing a dark winter jacket, a gray or white hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with any information regarding the robbery pattern or the suspects’ whereabouts that could prove helpful is asked to contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800- 577-TIPS, by text message to 274637 (enter information, then the code TIP577) or online at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.
All calls and messages will be kept confidential.
