4 thieves steal bag in Central Park, go on shopping spree with credit cards

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Police are searching for four young suspects who they say stole a man's bag in Central Park and went on a shopping spree with his stolen bank cards.

The NYPD released images of the four suspects over the weekend as they search for them in last Sunday’s theft near West Drive and West 97 ^th Street.

The 37-year-old victim placed his bag on a bench around 8:15 a.m. and walked away, police said.

The group grabbed the unattended bag and fled the area, according to police.

They then used credit and debit cards from the bag to make several purchases totaling over $1,000, police said.

The theft comes amid a 200% rise in robberies in the precinct covering Central Park, part of a 46% increase in overall major crime in the park this year compared to the same time in 2023, NYPD data shows.

Last week, police announced a surge of resources to the park to combat the crime spike, including increased patrols of officers on foot, bikes and horses, as well as the use of drones, which the NYPD said provide a better view of the over-800-acre park. They’re operating out of a new command post at Central Park South and Seventh Avenue.

NYPD officials said they suspect a "migrant robbery pattern"—made up of teens traveling in groups of up to 12 people—is responsible for a rash of recent robberies and thefts in the park, especially below 65th Street.

“That’s what we’re combating,” NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said of the juvenile robbery crew. “We think they’re responsible for most of them, if not all of them.”

In a statement last week, a spokesperson for the Central Park Conservancy, which manages the park, said: “The Central Park Conservancy is encouraged by NYPD’s expanded presence in the Park. We want New Yorkers and visitors to continue feeling safe and protected inside this beloved public space that the Conservancy cares for every day of the year.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.