Thieves Snatch Cell Phone, Cash From Man In Central Park: NYPD

CENTRAL PARK, NY — A man sitting in Central Park was robbed Monday evening in a random, unprovoked attack by a group of strangers, police said.

Authorities say the victim, 21, was sitting on a bench in the area near 59th Street and Center Drive around 9:30 p.m. on Monday when the incident occurred.

An NYPD spokesperson reported that an unknown suspect approached the man, snatched his phone, and demanded that he unlock it. At the same time, another suspect stole approximately $80 from the victim, according to the police.

Police reported that five men were suspected to have been involved in the crime.

The suspects then fled on foot with the phone and money, according to the NYPD.

The victim was not injured during the crime, and as of Tuesday morning, no arrests have been made, according to officials.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

The incident occurred as police continue to respond to an uptick in crime in Central Park.

According to NYPD records, there have been 27 robberies in Central Park this year through July 7, up from seven in the same period last year. There have also been 27 grand larcenies, marking a 42 percent increase compared to 2023.