Bike-Riding Brigands Behind Queens Robbery Spree: NYPD

QUEENS, NY — Bicycle-riding brigands carried out a violent northern Queens robbery spree that left three people battered and choked, police said.

The bandits pedaled off with a combined $640 in cash, their victim's phones, a gold bracelet and two wallets, NYPD officials said.

The first robbery unfolded Sept. 2 about 3:10 a.m. as a 21-year-old man walked in North Corona, authorities said.

The man's path down 34th Avenue and Junction Boulevard was interrupted by two robbers on bicycles, police said. One miscreant put the man in a chokehold while the other rifled through his pockets and took a phone and $400 in cash, authorities said.

The bicycling thieves rode off, while the man called police and later refused medical attention after the attack, officials said.

The second attack took place Sept. 6 about 12 a.m. inside Junction Playground, near where the first robbery occurred, police said.

This time, a 43-year-old man was sitting on a bench when three people came up to him, punched him in the side and forcibly took his phone, gold bracelet, ID and $40 in cash before they pedaled to the south on Junction Boulevard on bicycles, authorities said.

The final robbery occurred Sept. 16 about 4:40 a.m. as a 52-year-old man walked into a 39th Avenue building near Roosevelt Avenue, police said.

Two robbers punched the man and took his phone, bank card, ID, wallet and $200 before they rode bicycles to the east along Roosevelt Avenue, authorities said.

The man suffered a cut to his lip but refused medical attention, police said.

People with information are asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). They can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on Twitter @NYPDTips.