Crime & Safety
Video: In Clinton Hill, a Group of Young Boys Attacks and Robs 2 Pedestrians
A group of boys aged 12 to 15 years old robbed two men in separate attacks over a 30 minute span in Clinton Hill, police say.
CLINTON HILL, BROOKLYN — Two men were mugged by a group of young boys between 12 and 15 years old in two separate incidences over a 30 minute span on Willoughby Avenue in Clinton Hill, according to the New York City Police Department (NYPD).
The following surveillance footage, which police said they obtained from the nearby "Willoughby Towers," shows one of the attacks:
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The first robbery occurred near Willoughby Avenue and Ryerson Street on Sunday, Sept. 11, at approximately 9 p.m., when the group of unidentified boys approached a 35-year-old man from behind and "struck him on the back of the head and face causing swelling, bruising and a laceration," police said.
The group then removed the victim's cellphone — valued at $500 — before escaping, police said.
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The victim refused medical attention at the scene, according to the NYPD.
Approximately 30 minutes later, a 28-year-old man was walking near Washington Avenue and Willoughby Avenue when one of the suspects struck him on the back of his head and kicked him the face, elbow and leg "causing swelling, bruising and a laceration," police said.
The group removed the victim's cellphone — once again valued at $500 — before fleeing the scene, police said.
Both of the victims were attacked within the NYPD's 88th Precinct, which covers the Clinton Hill and Fort Greene neighborhoods in Brooklyn. According to official police statistics, through Sept. 4, robberies increased in the 88th by more than 45 percent compared to the same time period last year.
Through that date, 16 robberies had been recorded in the precinct, compared to 11 robberies during the same period in 2015.
Anyone with information about the muggings described above can confidentially report it using the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers website or by anonymously calling the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).
Los hispanohablantes pueden llamar 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
Tips can also be text-messaged to the NYPD by texting 274637 (CRIMES), then entering TIP577.
Lead image and video courtesy of the NYPD
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