Police Release Sketch In Weekend Robbery On Eastern Side Of Central Park

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police on Wednesday released a sketch in connection with one of three robberies in Central Park this past weekend.

Around 8 p.m. Sunday, a 19-year-old woman was walking in Central Park near 109th Street and East Drive, when the suspect started chatting her up, police said.

The suspect then asked the woman to sit down with him, told her he had a knife, and demanded her property, police said. The woman handed over her wallet and the suspect ran out of the park, police said.

The suspect was described as a male Hispanic around 20 years old, standing 5 feet tall and weighing about 130 pounds, with black hair in a bun and cargo pants.

Also this past weekend in Central Park, more than a dozen teenagers approached the couple at around 9:30 p.m. Saturday night at Heckscher Playground near 62nd Street and West Drive.

One of the muggers threatened the couple with a knife and possibly a Taser, and a female victim was punched in the face.

The victims were robbed of their cell phones.

A mugging also took place along the 81st Street Transverse near Belvedere Castle Sunday morning. In that incident, a 45-year-old man was choked and robbed of his wallet and backpack by a gun-wielding suspect.

Police have no suspects and have made no arrests in any of the cases.

Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said he's not concerned.

"Those events of those incidents, no relationship to each other. Every one in a while you have that aberration. That park remains one of the safest places in America," said Bratton.

As WCBS 880's Marla Diamond reported, Bratton said the robberies were unrelated, and a total aberration in a very safe park that until this weekend saw only four robberies since the beginning of the year.

"Do we have any real concern about an uptick in crime there? No, not at all," Bratton said. "And with the public's help, we'll get the three – the two instances, the single person involved in the robbery."

Still, Chief of Patrol James O'Neill said a greater police presence will be visible in Central Park.

"In the coming days, you'll see an increased uniformed presence. You'll also see an increase in scooters, and cars with their lights on," O'Neill said. "We understand how important Central Park is and we want to make sure everybody in that park stays safe."

As police search for the suspects, they have been also asking people to remain vigilant, especially as they walk through the park at night.

Anyone with information in the incident was asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS, log onto the Crime Stoppers website, or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and enter TIP577.