By Rachel Holliday Smith – DNAInfo.com
A man tried to rob four people at gunpoint while riding a bike in Crown Heights all within a 24-hour period last week, police said.
The suspect struck three times within 15 minutes on the night of Thursday, July 9, riding up behind his victims on a bicycle, threatening them with a silver handgun and demanding their cellphones, police said. However, he was only successful in robbing one of his targets, officials said.
The suspect, described as about 20 years old, found his first victim on Kingston Avenue between Lefferts and East New York avenues around 1:05 a.m., police said. The victim reported being threatened with a silver gun for his cellphone and when he ducked into the lobby of a nearby building, the would-be robber fled empty-handed on his bike south on Kingston Avenue.
Ten minutes later, the suspect approached a 26-year-old man walking on Empire Boulevard between Troy and Albany avenues and threatened him with a similar-looking gun, according to a separate police report. The man handed over his $700 Samsung Galaxy S5 phone and $50 in cash before the suspect fled eastbound on Empire toward Troy.
Only five minutes after that, he struck a third time, rolling up on a 21-year-old man who was walking with his cellphone in hand on Brooklyn Avenue between Sterling Street and Lefferts Avenue, police said. The suspect flashed a gun, said “that’s mine now” and snatched the phone. But the victim grabbed it back and the suspect fled by bike northbound on Brooklyn, police said.
The next night, on July 10, the suspect tried for a fourth time, riding behind a 33-year-old man and threatening him with a silver gun around 2:20 a.m., police said. The victim ran away from him and he fled on his bike.
No arrests had been made as of Thursday afternoon, police said.
Wait I thought it was illegal to rob!? how is it possible someone is robbing people?!
My dear fellow hidden, I too lived in Crown Heights some years ago. I was younger then and didn’t realize that living there was so dangerous. The world is a very crazy place and people will rob your life for s few dollars ect.please get a gun, arm up, and protect yourselves. It really is t against a y law to protect yourself. This is the way of the world I’m afraid.
People think it makes the thief less likely to attack when someone has a phone. In reality, people may be tempted to snatch your expensive phone.
What does make people scared is if you walk with confidence and a gait that says ‘it’s pointless to start up with me’. Walk up straight with your hands not in pockets etc.
One second everyone… I thought that NYC was a gun free zone? No? So how could this person have had a gun if it’s illegal to own or carry one?
If your going alone at nite , take precautions take a wallet with unimportant papers inside. No cell phone , or a cheap one.
It’s likely it’s not a real gun, but people, don’t be stupid. If someone threatens you with a gun, give them what they want. It’s not worth being brave. Also, it doesn’t hurt to keep a note on you as a precaution.
did they check the cell phone for fingerprints?
And if he’d been then shot in the face, how proud exactly would his family be of his “bravery”?!?!?!?!?!