Police Make Arrest In Violent Broad-Daylight Central Park Robbery

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police have made an arrest in last week's violent robbery of a woman walking along a secluded Central Park path.

Police say Oscar Jiggetts, 55, was arrested in connection with the mugging that took place at 102nd Street and West Drive at 11 a.m. last Wednesday.

Police believe Jiggetts was the man in a white T-shirt and jeans who targeted the woman walking alone from the Great Hill area.

The 26-year-old woman said her attacker was walking in the opposite direction when he jumped right in front of her and demanded she hand over her purse. But when she held onto it he punched her in the face repeatedly and she fell on the ground.

The robber grabbed her belongings from the trail and took off. The victim said he only got away with $1.70.

The victim spoke to CBS2's Ilana Gold by phone last Friday about the scary incident.

"I was afraid he would have a knife or something like that," she said.

There have been several crimes in and around Central Park in recent months, including several muggings and an attempted kidnapping. Just this week, a 77-year-old man fended off some would-be muggers in the same area where the woman was attacked.

Police said both men and women have been victimized at all times of the day and night in various locations across the park, adding only a few cases are linked.

"We have millions and millions of people coming through Central Park. We've been calling for additional police officers and additional park enforcement officers," said NYC Parks Advocates president Geoffrey Croft.

Police have stepped up patrols in the park over the last few months. The woman victimized in the mugging has some advice as well.

"Just stay close to where there are more people," the woman said.