Teens Charged In Connection With Central Park Robbery Spree
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Five teenagers will face charges after allegedly going on a crime spree around Central Park on Monday morning.
Three of the boys were apprehended along Fifth Avenue and 96th streets, police said. Two others were taken into custody when they showed up at the 23rd Precinct to check on their friends.
Angel Munoz, 16, has been charged with two counts of robbery. Two of the other suspects are 13 years old, and two are 14, 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reported. The teens will all face charges in connection with the robberies, CBS 2 reported.
5 Teens Questioned In Central Park Robbery Spree
The group allegedly attacked a 31-year-old man at around 5:15 a.m. at Fifth Avenue and 95th Street outside the park, sources said. One of the teens was wielding a stick and demanded the man turn over his valuables, police said.
When the man hesitated, one of the suspects punched him in the face, police told CBS 2's John Slatter. The group then ran into the park.
Once inside the park, they mugged two women near the reservoir at 96th Street, police said, getting away with an iPhone and an iPod. The victims were not hurt in the incident.
5 Teens Questioned In Central Park Robbery Spree
Police located three of the suspects shortly afterward.
The two robbery victims -- ages 46 and 48 -- declined to speak on camera, but they told Slattery they were grateful police had the suspects in custody.
"That's terrible, terrible," a parkgoer told Slattery. "We never have had anything like that. I hope something will be done."
"It's very scary," said Kate Mullin, who lives nearby. "Obviously, you give whoever whatever they want. ... Nothing's worth it."
George, who also lives nearby, told WCBS 880's Monica Miller he enjoys walking around the park, but not before the sun comes up.
"When I'm here, there are plenty of people, lots of kids in the park, and I'm not concerned about safety," he said.
Hillary, who walks her dogs in the park, said she's not surprised to hear about the crime spree.
"Sometimes, we're alone, and, yeah, sometimes I do feel a little bit threatened," she said.
"I think you're always on your guard a little bit. If you're a New Yorker, you are," Hillary added.
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