Women Targeted In UWS Robberies, Police Say

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The NYPD is trying to identify two men wanted in connection with robberies on the Upper West Side.

The men are accused of violently robbing two women in separate incidents, police said. The robberies occurred within three days in August, police said.

The first robbery occurred on the night of Aug. 18 on West 66th Street near Amsterdam Avenue, police said. A 69-year-old woman was walking on the sidewalk when two men approached her from behind and knocked her to the ground, police said. The men then grabbed the woman's purse from her shoulder, which contained her cellphone and credit cards, and fled the scene, police said.

The victim suffered an injury to her arm and was taken to Roosevelt Hospital in stable condition.

The second robbery occurred during the early morning hours on Aug. 20 on West 63rd Street near Central Park West. The two men approached a 25-year-old woman, knocked her to the ground and snatched her purse, police said. The purse contained $20 cash and credit cards. The woman was not injured during the robbery, police said.

Police released photos of both suspects. One of the men is described as being heavy-set with his hair in a ponytail and was last seen wearing a blue shirt, two-tone shorts, black sneakers, police said. The other robber has a medium building and was last seen wearing a white shirt and white baseball cap while holding a yellow shirt and a purse.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Photo by NYPD