The NYPD is asking Bushwick residents to help track down two men investigators say are behind a string of robberies targeting kids in northern Brooklyn’s 83rd Precinct.
Detectives on Feb. 25 released surveillance images of the pair, linking them to three incidents earlier this month in which young teens were robbed of phones, jackets and small amounts of cash. In two of the cases, police say a weapon was threatened or displayed; in another, a victim was struck and left with minor injuries.
What detectives released
In a social media post, NYPD Crime Stoppers shared stills and short clips that investigators say show the same two individuals wanted in connection with robberies on Feb. 5 and Feb. 11 inside the 83rd Precinct. The post lists the victims as an 11-year-old, a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old.
According to police, one of the men simulated having a firearm, while the other displayed a knife. One teen was hit in the head and suffered minor injuries, according to NYPD Crime Stoppers. Rewards and anonymous tips are handled through the city’s Crime Stoppers program, which notes that tips leading to an arrest and indictment may be eligible for up to $3,500, according to the City of New York Crime Stoppers.
Timeline and locations
Police say the first robbery happened on Feb. 5 near 1525 Myrtle Avenue. A 14-year-old was approached by two suspects, who took an iPhone, a jacket, a sweatshirt and about $50 in cash. No injuries were reported in that incident, according to detectives.
Two more robberies were reported on Feb. 11 along Greene Avenue. The first was around 3:35 p.m. near 1495 Greene Avenue, and the second about an hour later, around 4:45 p.m., near 1350 Greene Avenue. In those cases, a 15-year-old and an 11-year-old had phones or jackets taken, and one victim suffered minor injuries, police say.
Similar robbery patterns have been reported in Bushwick in past years, and local coverage has shown that detectives often lean heavily on surveillance footage and neighborhood tips to crack these cases, according to amNY.
How to pass along tips
Anyone with information or video is asked to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers program. Tips can be submitted in several ways, authorities say:
- Call the hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477)
- Call the Spanish-language line at 1-888-57-PISTA (74782)
- Submit an online tip at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org
- Message @NYPDTips on X
Tips that lead to an arrest and indictment may qualify for rewards up to $3,500, according to the City of New York Crime Stoppers. Detectives are also asking residents to save any surveillance or cellphone footage with clear timestamps and, importantly, not to approach anyone they believe might be involved.
