Brave 87-Year-Old Fends Off Robbers in New York City

An 87-year-old man bravely defended himself against two would-be thieves who attempted to steal his $48,000 Rolex near the Gramercy Park Senior Center, where he was with his wife.

Larry Schwartz, 87, and his wife Joanna Cuccia, 89, were approaching the Stein Senior Center on East 23rd Avenue around 11 a.m. Wednesday when a male suspect opened the door and inquired about Walmart’s location, Schwartz reported.

Cuccia replied, “There’s no Walmart in New York City,” to which the suspect insisted, “Yes, say to my wife, tell her.”

A woman, believed to be in her forties, then directed Cuccia to the curb where she was sitting in a grey SUV.

Upon meeting the expected wife, described as about 35, Cuccia felt something was off. “She had a lot of chains and bracelets in her hands,” Cuccia noted. “They seemed to want to give off an impression of wealth, but I wasn’t interested.” The woman reached out, pretending to be friendly, and began examining Cuccia’s ring and watch.

Just then, Schwartz, who was in the lobby, came outside to see what was happening.

That’s when the female passenger made her move, attempting to take Schwartz’s Rolex, which he had owned for over 40 years. “She offered me some sort of fake Rolex,” Schwartz recalled. “I knew right away it was a scam.”

As he held the fake watch, the woman reached for his wrist. Schwartz remembered, “She grabbed my thumb, flipped the catch, and my watch slid down my wrist.” In an instant, he reacted. “I grabbed her by the wrist, pulled her whole body against the side of the open window. She screamed.”

To emphasize his point, Schwartz added, “Then I gave her arm a twist.” Even as she kept his Rolex, he tried to hit her hand on the car’s interior.

Meanwhile, the male accomplice was attempting to distract Cuccia, displaying a large stack of cash. “He fanned it out and said, ‘Come and choose the bill you want,’” she recounted.

At that moment, Cuccia realized they were in serious trouble. “It felt so strange,” she said. Larry was busy in a struggle to protect his watch.

As the male driver returned to the car and revved the engine, he urged Schwartz to let go of Kuccia’s wrist.

Despite a few minor bruises and cuts, Schwartz refused medical assistance. He expressed pride in his instinct to fight back, saying, “I’m a physical person. I’m not ashamed.”

Schwartz shared that staying active is important to him—he exercises regularly and feels capable. However, he also acknowledged a growing vulnerability among older citizens. “They’re out there with no fear,” he remarked about the thieves. “I don’t think they fear consequences.”

Cuccia described the ordeal as “shocking,” reflecting on her life in New York. “I’ve lived here my entire life, through many difficult times, but I’ve never faced something like this before,” she said. “I feel more vulnerable than ever.”

According to recent NYPD statistics, there have been 124 robberies reported in the precinct this year, representing a 19% increase. Grand larcenies have also risen, with 192 incidents recorded, up about 21% from the same timeframe last year.