In the shadow of the Big Apple's most famous landmark, a violent gang spent two weeks terrorizing newsstand vendors, dragging them off their shelves and extorting them for as much as $5,000, police said. It continued.
New York City police are searching for four thugs who are part of a gang that has robbed sidewalk clerks nine times since January 1, including attacks near Carnegie Hall and Midtown's Ed Sullivan Theater. The New York City Police Department announced.
Police say thugs ambushed elderly salespeople at night, dragged them out the back door of a newsstand, slammed them to the ground and shot or slashed them before stealing what was in their pockets and cash registers. It's called threatening. .
“They just take your money,” said Al Maruf, 28, a newsstand clerk at 1750 Broadway, across the street from the Ed Sullivan Theater.
“We carry lottery cash because we sell lottery tickets. It's all cash and they know it,” Malouf said, adding that since the robbery, the concession stand is closed after 8 p.m. He pointed out that it was not open for business.
“I've been a little scared since that day,” he said Sunday. “But what can I do? I have to work.”
Police say the brutal spree began just after 7 p.m. on January 1 at 1717 Broadway, where newsstand clerk Atial Roman, 70, was forced to the ground by three scammers and robbed of $750. It was done.
Roman's brother, Zahid Islam, 68, said the traders had been the victims of another robbery the day before, but it had not been reported to police.
“When they plucked me from another guy; [was] “Shoot him!” he shouted. Shoot, shoot! They're yelling at him, 'Shoot, shoot,''' Islam told the Post on Sunday. “They cost $350. I don't complain. I don't call the police. The next day they robbed my brother. [of] $750. ”
Ms. Islam also said she had met the suspect at least once since then.
“They are already back,” he said. “I hear them pull the door. This time it's locked. I look around and see. [the] Same men. When they see me take away their phones, they just walk away. they are not afraid. I called 911 and his brother. The police are coming. ”
When asked what he could do to protect himself, he replied: I don't know. “
Police say the gang attacked twice on Jan. 2, assaulting a 27-year-old woman at a newsstand, fleeing with a cellphone around 5:25 p.m., and then attacking a 59-year-old merchant with a knife on Broadway. He confronted her and took $250. About 30 minutes later, we arrived at West 58th Street.
On January 5, just after 8:30 p.m., two people from the food truck pushed a 40-year-old woman working at the food truck to the ground outside 1524 Second Avenue, taking $200, her cell phone, and the victim. He allegedly stole her wallet and fled. To the police.
The gang robbed a 53-year-old man inside a sidewalk kiosk at Broadway and West 54th Street around 6:40 p.m. on January 7, stealing $5,000 in lottery receipts from the cash register. committed a crime. .
Two days later, a 58-year-old man working at a newsstand outside 1628 Broadway was robbed of $70 and suffered minor injuries, police said.
On Thursday, the gang robbed a 50-year-old peddler of $3,200 in three raids in just three hours at Rector Street and Trinity Place. He stole $2,800 from a 45-year-old man at knifepoint at a newsstand in front of the 100 block of Church Street. Police say they beat a 31-year-old vendor outside 1410 Broadway and stole $3,000 from him.
Police released surveillance images of the suspect Sunday and asked anyone with information to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS or crimestoppers.nypdonline.org.
