Subway Robbers Target Passengers In Harlem, Times Square: Police

HARLEM, NY — Two men committed a pair of robberies within minutes of each other aboard Manhattan subway trains this week, pistol-whipping the first victim and shoving the second onto the train tracks, according to police.

The spree began around 1 a.m. Monday, as a 20-year-old man was on board a downtown 3 train at the 145th Street-Lenox Avenue station in Harlem.

Two men wearing ski masks walked up and demanded the man's property, with one flashing a firearm. The man with the gun pistol-whipped the victim multiple times in the face, as the pair snatched his fanny pack, iPhone charger, and speakers — worth about $255 total, police said.

The two men left the train one stop later at 135th Street and fled to parts unknown, police said. The young victim was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was in stable condition.

Just half an hour later, the same two men walked up to a 29-year-old man on board a different downtown 3 train at the 42nd Street-Times Square station. Again, they flashed a firearm and demanded his property, with one man grabbing the victim's wallet — which had credit cards and about $1 in cash, police said.

When the second suspect tried to take the man's cellphone from his hand, the two began fighting with each other and emerged from the train onto the platform. At that point, the suspects hit the victim in the head with the firearm, punched him multiple times, and then pushed him onto the subway tracks, police said.

The victim was taken to NYC Health & Hospitals/Lincoln in stable condition. (An NYPD spokesperson said it was unclear how the man got up from the tracks.)

Police on Thursday described the suspects as men in their 20s, both about 5 feet tall with a medium build. They were last seen wearing all-black sweatsuits.

Authorities released surveillance footage showing the two men walking into a store and using the ATM, around the time of the second incident, according to police.

Police asked anyone with information to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). People can also submit tips online or on Twitter, @NYPDTips.