Crowbar Wielding Muggers Rob Man at Wollman Rink

Video - Cops Searching for Robbery Crew

Cops are searching for these men in connection with a robbery at Wollman Rink in which a man was threatened with a crowbar. -Photo by NYPD

By Dan Gesslein 

Manhattan Voice

July 23, 2023

MANHATTAN - A crowbar wielding robbery crew mugged a man at Wollman Rink in Central Park, cops said.

Police surveillance video captured images of the suspects all wearing face coverings. One of the suspects was seen wearing a bright purple balaclava. Cops say the same crew is suspected in two  Midtown robberies. 

At around 6:30 am on July 16, a 54-year-old man was standing at Wollman Rink inside Central Park when he was approached by five men. One of the men displayed a crowbar and demanded cash.

Cops said the victim struggled with the group of robbers. In the struggle the attackers removed $200 from the victim before running away.

The victim was not injured in the attack.

Cops said the same crew struck again the next day and robbed and assaulted a man in Midtown. At around 5:30 am on July 17, a 61-year-old man was walking in the vicinity of Beekman Place and East 51st Street when he was approached by the group.

Cops said the group surrounded the man and removed his cellphone out of his hand and $6 out of his pockets.

Cops said one of the robbers slapped the victim across the face before fleeing on foot.

The surveillance video of the suspects shows each of the five men wearing either hoodies with face masks or balaclavas covering their faces.

Anyone with information in regard to 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 public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or on Twitter @NYPDTips. 

All calls are strictly confidential.