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A string of Central Park robberies stokes fears
The bad old days may be sprouting again in Central Park.
Three muggings have taken place in the leafy retreat in the last month, with the crooks working in teams and largely eluding authorities.
“Sounds like the old and wild Central Park back in the day,” said Tony Walker, 40, a native New Yorker from Queens.
Just after midnight Sunday, robbers stuck up two men in their 20s near 102 Street and East Drive, swiping a bank card and wallet, police said yesterday. When a 46-year-old man came by, he was also robbed.
Police nabbed one of the suspected robbers, 20-year-old Ramelle Moore of the Upper West Side, and recovered his .38 pistol. Officers were still searching for the other two muggers.
Last week, police said a 62-year-old man near East Drive and the Great Lawn in Central Park was stuck up by the two men. And last month, a 25-year-old female jogger was pushed to the ground and robbed by two men, according to police. Authorities have not caught the perps, one of whom was carrying a skateboard.
“It’s scary,” said Wendy Cruz, 30, of Manhattan. “With things getting bad again, it’s no surprise that the city is changing back.”
Still, Central Park is far safer than it used to be. There were more than 150 robberies in the park in 1990 compared to 25 last year, according to police statistics.
Phoebe Kingsak contributed to this story.
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