Police Beef Up Patrols After String of Armed Robberies

Police ramped up patrols at a play area in response to a spate of frightening robberies occurring at gunpoint in the past week.

A total of four robberies took place in the vicinity of St. Edwards and Willoughby streets at the park's western edge since Tuesday, Sept. 6. Of those incidents, three involved the use of a handgun.

Elsewhere in the park, a stick-up occurred Monday, Sept. 5 at 8 p.m. near the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument, where three victims were robbed at gunpoint. In that incident, the robber allegedly told one of his victims, "Hurry up and put cash in my bag or [your] friend will be the first to go when I shoot her in the head.”

A homeless man, identified by police as Dwayne McCray, 49, was arrested and charged Saturday in connection with two of the three recent armed robberies at the playground. 

Police said McCray was a suspect in the monument robbery, but had not been charged in connection to the crime.

A third stick-up at the popular play area, involving a 30-year-old woman held-up at gunpoint for her iPhone, occurred on Sunday at 4:16 p.m.—a day after McCray was arrested.

At the park on a sunny Tuesday afternoon, a group of parents watching their children at the play area expressed surprise at news of the recent string of armed robberies.

"It's comforting that we're here as a group and it's four in the afternoon," said one parent, who did want to be identified. "It's scary that it's armed activity, but am I going to change my mind right now? I don't want to stop coming to the park."

Deputy Inspector Anthony Tasso, the commanding officer at the 88th Precinct, offered a theory into the in Fort Greene Park and at area subway entrances and station platforms.

"IPhones are the prime motivating factors," Tasso said. "We think people are coming in from place like East New York and Brownsville and targeting people here."

Tasso said he doubled the number of plainclothes officers patrolling the park at night from five to 10. Additional patrol cars were also making staggered sweeps of the area, both during school hours and at night, he said.

Anyone with information about a crime can call 911 or the 88th Precinct Community Affairs office at 718-636-6526.

For block association members or anyone looking for tips to combat crime, call the 88th Precinct Crime Prevention Officer at 718-636-7373.