NEW YORK, NY — Police increased their visible presence around Central Park on Friday after four armed robberies were reported on the east side of the park Thursday night. In each case, three men approached visitors, displayed a gun and took cellphones before riding away on bicycles.
The robberies were reported within about an hour, starting at 8:41 p.m. and continuing at 9:30 p.m., followed by two more at 9:45 p.m. Officers focused their response near the locations where some of the incidents happened, including 106th Street and East Drive, where two of the four robberies were reported.
Four robberies reported in less than an hour
Police said the four incidents unfolded Thursday night along the east side of Central Park. The first robbery was reported at 8:41 p.m., the second at 9:30 p.m., and two more came in at 9:45 p.m. Each time, the suspects were described as three men who confronted visitors, showed a gun and stole phones.
The robberies happened as the park was otherwise seeing a typical late-September evening. That contrast made the reports stand out for visitors and prompted a closer look from the NYPD. Investigators are trying to determine whether the same group is responsible for all four hold-ups.
Police presence concentrates near 106th Street and East Drive
On Friday night, officers were stationed visibly near 106th Street and East Drive, one of the areas tied to two of the robberies. Police said a 20-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man were held at gunpoint there and had their cellphones stolen.
Two other men also reported being robbed in the same area, according to police. The added patrols were meant both to reassure parkgoers and to keep a close watch on the stretch where the crimes were reported. The NYPD has not announced any arrests in connection with the robberies.
Visitors react with caution and surprise
Some people in the park said they already avoid certain sections after dark. Wilfredo Morales said he is not in the park very often at night, explaining that it is better to stay away from some areas.
Another visitor said the robberies were a reminder to be careful, adding that they would avoid carrying money or cellphones. For several parkgoers, the news felt unsettling because Central Park is such a well-known destination in the city. Ashley Cardenas said the reports were shocking, while Niko Li said it was odd to hear about phone robberies in a place so closely tied to sightseeing and scenery.
A familiar park setting changed by violence
Central Park’s east side is usually associated with runners, walkers and tourists, not armed robberies. That sense of familiarity made the night’s events more striking for visitors who were passing through on Friday. Even so, the park remained busy, and the police presence was easy to spot near the area where the robberies had been reported.
For some longtime residents, the response offered a measure of comfort. Jonah Brill, who said he has lived in the area for 13 or 14 years, said he has never felt safer. He said seeing police in the park was reassuring, even after hearing about the robberies.
Investigators look for a possible connection among the suspects
Police are still working to determine whether the same three men were involved in all four robberies. The details reported so far suggest a similar pattern: approach visitors, show a gun, take a cellphone and leave by bicycle.
That method has led investigators to examine whether the incidents were carried out by one group moving through the park or by separate crews using the same approach. For now, the focus remains on identifying the suspects and preventing more attacks along the east side of Central Park.
