Crime Watch

BY JERRY DANZIG

MAN ROBBED ON WEST 98THA young man was robbed at gunpoint of $5,000 on West 98th Street near Amsterdam Avenue on Sunday, November 19, police said. The man, 23, was walking from Broadway with his girlfriend about 7 p.m. when the couple, now walking east on West 98th, was approached by another man who then struck the 23-year-old with unknown object, knocking him down. The man then pulled out a handgun, and said, “Give me your bag, or I’m going to blow your head off!” The victim complied, and the thief fled with the man’s book bag to a pickup truck parked on Amsterdam, and driven by another man. In addition to the cash, the bag held a cellphone and some personal items.

Student Mugged on West 105thA At 2:20 p.m. on Friday, November 17, a 14-year-old student attending the West Preparatory Academy on West 105th Street was walking to the bus stop at Manhattan Avenue after school when he was approached by two men who surrounded him. One of the men punched the boy in the face. The victim dropped the backpack he was holding, and the other man, who was carrying a broomstick, then hit the teenager in the back of the head with the implement. The man with the broomstick made off with the backpack, which was valued at $100.

Fruit Vendor RobbedThe victim in this story was a senior citizen, attacked by two young men. Just after midnight on Saturday, November 18, two men — both about 20 — were standing at a fruit stand outside 2702 Broadway when the 70-year-old fruit-stand vendor and asked them to leave, according to the police report. One of the young men then punched the vendor in the face, knocking him to the ground. While the man was down, one of the younger men took the man’s cellphone and $200, kicked him in the face and upper body. The two then fled east on West 103rd Street toward Amsterdam Avenue. The victim suffered cuts and bruises and a facial fracture, police said.

Bike Thieves Assault RiderYet another young man had a frightening encounter with a group of men. At 8:15 p.m. on Friday, November 17, a 15-year-old male youth was riding a bike on Columbus Avenue when a group of men approached him near 875 Columbus Avenue, police said. One of the men punched the teenager in the face. A second man took the victim’s bike and fled northbound on Columbus, while the third man reached into the victim’s pocket, trying but failing to take his cellphone. The victim suffered slight bruising on the right side of his face. The stolen bike was a red camo SE valued at $600.