Last month, Greenpoint neighbors expressed concerns about a seemingly increasing rate of assaults and attacks, particularly on women, in the neighborhood.
Last week, the police reported a series of incidents that appear to be connected. It has left the neighborhood on edge yet again after the attacks and robberies.
The four incidents all happened on Sunday, September 25th in the afternoon. According to the police, here’s a timeline of what happened:
- 3:10 p.m. – A 26-year-old man was skateboarding with friends near Jackson Street and Meeker Avenue. Four unidentified man approached him to “engage in conversation. One of the suspects grabbed the victim from behind, forcing him to the ground. Another suspect took 26-year-old victim’s backpack, which had a Pentax camera worth $100, an iPhone 6, an ID, a passport and three books (“Just Kids”, “Philosophy of Andy Warhol” and “Lolita”). Another suspect then took the victim’s skateboard and hit him in the back with it. The victim suffered back pain but refused medical attention. The suspects fled on Jackson Street.
- 4:15 p.m. – A 34-year-old man was walking near Jewel Street and Meserole Avenue when three unidentified men approached him. One of the suspect hit the victim in the face, then removing his iPhone, wallet $300, an ID and a MetroCard. The victim was taken to Wyckoff Medical Center, where he got eight stitches to close a large cut in his chin.
- 4:30 p.m. – A 32-year-old man was walking near Diamond Street and Meserole Avenue when two unidentified men, yet again, approached him from behind. One of the suspects punched him in the face. They went through the victim’s pockets, taking a Samsung Galaxy S7, a wallet, $80, an ID and bank cards. The victim refused medical attention while the suspects ran away.
- 4:45 p.m. – A 33-year-old man was walking on Leonard Street and Engert Avenue when two unidentified men, one of them holding a skateboard, asked him for the time. One of the suspects then displayed a knife and demanded the victim’s possessions, a request with which he complied. They left with an iPhone 6 and an American Express card. Luckily, the victim in this case was not hurt.
Police believe all four of these incidents are related, and surveillance footage took photos of the possible suspects in the photo above.
Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM.