Crime & Safety
Prolific Bryant Park Pickpocketers Rob 18 People In 2 Weeks: Police
A man and a woman have been bumping into people in Bryant Park and secretly snatching their valuables for weeks, according to police.
MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Two people have turned Bryant Park into their own personal pickpocketing ground by committing 18 robberies in a two-week span, according to police.
The incidents span from Nov. 20 to Dec. 3, all taking place inside the Midtown park, police say.
In each case, the unsuspecting victims said they bumped into one of the suspects, only to discover later that they were missing valuable items — including iPhones, credit cards, a Gucci bag, AirPods and MetroCards, police said.
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Three of the thefts happened on Thanksgiving Day, while the duo's most prolific day was Dec. 3, when they committed seven robberies — all between 12:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., police say.
Police on Monday released surveillance images showing the two suspects, one man and one woman, inside the park on Nov. 20.
Find out what's happening in Midtown-Hell's Kitchenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Authorities 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.
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