Police Investigating Two Separate Muggings In Central Park
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police are investigating two violent muggings that happened in Central Park, one of which involved what was described as a gang of more than a dozen teenagers.
As CBS2's Hazel Sanchez reported Sunday, the first attack happened around 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Heckscher Playground near the southern end of Central Park.
Police said a group of about 15 teens attacked a man and woman sitting in the playground.
The attackers threatened the pair with a knife and Taser, Sanchez reported. One of the attackers also chased the male victim with the knife, but did not injure him. Another one of the attackers punched the 17-year-old woman in the face before taking off with both of the victims' cell phones and the woman's wallet.
The second attack happened around 1:30 a.m. Sunday as a 45-year-old Bronx man was walking along the 81st Street transverse. That suspect tried to choke the man before running off with his wallet, Sanchez reported.
Parkgoers on Sunday were uneasy after learning about the attacks.
"I'm totally shocked! I mean, any place, but especially here. I am really shocked," said Upper West Side resident Gun Bauchmer.
"In Central Park, a place like this? You don't think that can happen, you know," said Rachel Mitskaris, of Riverdale. "It's scary. I'm feeling like I have to watch my stuff right now, you know?"
"(Does it make you nervous, you're here on your own) Right now, yes Because I didn't know that. I'm surprised and now I'm a little bit nervous," said Raphael Villegas, of Washington Heights.
Police said the robberies are not connected and no one was seriously injured. The suspects in both cases are still on the loose.
