Police: Women Robbed Near LIRR Train Station In Rockville Centre
ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Police are searching for two men who allegedly attacked a woman near a Long Island Rail Road train station.
What's worse, police said she is not the suspects' only victim.
The incident happened around 8:15 p.m. Sunday in front of 100 N. Centre Ave., after the 36-year-old victim got off the train in Rockville Centre.
Police said one of the suspects picked up the woman and threw her to the ground while the other stole her cell phone.
Police said the suspects fled on foot northbound on N. Centre Avenue.
According to police, the suspects work in tandem to attack and rob women leaving the LIRR station.
"We had two incidents over the weekend where females leaving the railroad station were accosted by two males," Rockville Centre Police Inspector Glenn Quinn told CBS 2's Jennifer McLogan.
CBS 2 News has learned that after leaving the elevated tracks, the first victim relinquished her cellphone and handbag without a struggle.
But the following evening, the second victim put up a fight as she headed to her nearby apartment, McLogan reported.
"She resisted; they assaulted her. She was hospitalized," Quinn told McLogan.
Locals said they love living in the area because it is normally so safe.
"You almost feel insulated here," one woman said.
"It's definitely very quiet, very family oriented," another resident added.
"It's scary because we have our own police force," a resident told McLogan.
LIRR commuters said the hard lesson is to remain vigilant.
"I'm always looking where I'm going, I'm always paying attention," one woman told McLogan.
"We have to think about each other, care about each other, and look out for one another," another local told CBS 2's McLogan.
Since the crimes happened so close to the business district and to the station, detectives said they are checking the area for surveillance cameras.
"There may be video available to us from the surrounding streets where the crimes were committed," Quinn told McLogan.
Police said they believe the LIRR robbery pattern could extend beyond the two female victims and are urging anyone with additional information to come forward.
Both of the suspects are described as black men, 5-foot-10, 18-22 years old and 170 pounds, police said. One of the suspects was last seen wearing a dark hooded shirt with horizontal stripes, police said.
The attacks have prompted police to step up patrols in the area, CBS 2's Alice Gainer reported. Meanwhile, residents said they will be keeping a close eye out for trouble.
"Makes me feel very uncomfortable. You're often alone here at night waiting for the train. You don't feel like you're safe in Rockville Centre anymore," Marcy Miller said.
Detectives ask anyone with information to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.
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