Juvenile suspects allegedly rob victims in plain sight of NYPD cameras in Manhattan

MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) — Grand Army Plaza, flanked by Fifth Avene and Central Park South, is in plain view of hundreds of surrounding windows and at least two marked NYPD surveillance cameras.

None of that was enough to deter four juvenile suspects from approaching and robbing three victims as they sat on a bench just off Fifth Avenue at around 1 a.m. Tuesday.

NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Tarik Sheppard said the juvenile suspects hinted at – but did not pull out a weapon before taking the victims’ chain and AirPods.

Three of them are already in custody, and two of them list a home address that currently operates as a homeless shelter.

“In this incident, that verbally said, ‘Don’t make me get my gun.’ But they simulated that they had a firearm. With all of the things that are out there for kids to do, there are still a certain stubborn set of youth that are going to commit crimes. And we are not going to program our way out of this. So, what we have to do is hold them accountable,” said Sheppard.

Sheppard said robberies are up 200 percent yearly in Central Park ; context is important. It’s an increase from 10 to 30 robberies.

That includes a recent incident at the ice-skating rink inside the park. Still, he said any robbery is unacceptable.

“We’re gonna increase the patrols, put some more plainclothes in here; cameras are important, and then we have the autonomous drones coming soon,” said Sheppard.

Those drones will be remotely operated from police headquarters to help fill coverage gaps for patrolling officers inside the massive 800-plus-acre park.

Bryson said his 20-plus year career as an NYPD officer prepared him well for his current role as a Central Park tour guide, and he offers his clients the following advice:

“Keep your eyes on your fries. Don’t be leaving your bag. If someone is coming up to you and you don’t know them. You don’t have to wait until they’re right on top of you. Can I help you? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” said Bryson.

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