Mugging crew stirring fear in housing project
It’s open season on residents of the Bronx’s Patterson Houses.
A violent robbery crew has been preying on residents in an around the Mott Haven NYCHA complex since December, police said Wednesday. The callous crew has been linked to at least eight muggings.
The masked bandits — seven in all — have gotten away with nearly $6,000 in cash and electronics from their victims, including a $1,000 e-bike, cops said.
The victims, all men, were jumped and beaten or threatened with violence before they were robbed. Only once did one of the crooks pull a weapon — a sharp blade, police said.
None of the victims suffered serious injuries but several were taken to Lincoln Hospital, which is just a few blocks from the Patterson Houses.
In the most recent incident, four of the muggers pummeled a 48-year-old victim at E. 148th St. and College Ave. about 6:10 p.m. Jan. 20, grabbing his cell phone and wallet containing $70 cash.
Investigators recovered surveillance images of the four suspects in that attack and released the photos Wednesday. Cops are asking the public’s help identifying the suspects and tracking them down.
The spree began about 2:10 a.m. Dec. 6 when a mugger jumped a 64-year-old man on E. 140th St. near Alexander Ave., about a block from the Patterson Houses. The crook punched the victim in the face, knocking him to the sidewalk, before rifling through his pockets and robbing him of $120.
Six days later, two members of the crew kicked and punched a 48-year-old victim on Morris Ave. in front of the Patterson Houses at 6 a.m., taking his cell phone, pricey headphones and $200 cash — an $820 haul.
About 1:20 a.m. Dec. 22, two crooks jumped a 49-year-old victim from behind as he was walking home near E. 146th St. and Courtlandt Ave. The muggers punched him in the face and demanded his money before ripping his jacket open and taking $1,700 in cash.
About 7:50 p.m. Dec. 28, four bandits grabbed the e-bike and $400 cash from a 37-year-old victim in front of the Patterson Houses.
About 12:50 a.m. Dec. 31 two crooks approached a 21-year-old man from behind and one of them brandished a blade on Willis Ave. about a block from the Patterson Houses. They snatched the victim’s backpack containing his keys, financial documents and $50 cash.
About 7 a.m. Jan. 1, near E. 141st St. and Third Ave., three crooks attacked a 41-yearold man from behind, kicking him. They snatched victim’s wallet containing $600 cash.
About 4:20 a.m. Jan. 3, thee crooks shoved a 34-year-old victim to the ground and punched him while he was down. They got away with his headphones and wallet containing $50 cash.
While the eight robberies all took place either in or just outside the Patterson Houses, it’s not clear if the muggers live in the area, police sources said.
Mott Haven’s 40th Precinct has seen a 22% in robberies since the beginning of the year. As of Feb. 6, cops were investigating 43 robberies in the area compared with 35 reported by this time last year.
Shootings in the area have dropped by half, from six last year to three so far this year. Anyone with information was asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.