In the middle of a weekday afternoon on Castle Hill Avenue, a thief forced their way into a local business, smashed through a side door, and made off with about $450 in cash before sprinting southbound on the same block, according to police. The burglary happened around 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15, within the NYPD’s 43rd Precinct in the southeast Bronx, and investigators are now asking for the public’s help to track the suspect down.
The NYPD put out a wanted notice on X through NYPD Crime Stoppers, identifying the location as 1759 Castle Hill Avenue and stating that the suspect fled southbound after the break-in. Tipsters are urged to DM @NYPDTips or call the hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS. The Crime Stoppers program offers rewards of up to $3,500 for information that leads to an arrest and indictment, according to the NYPD Crime Stoppers page.
Where it happened
Castle Hill Avenue has become known as a busy neighborhood commercial strip where crimes can play out in full view of passersby and nearby cameras, and where surveillance video often becomes key to solving cases. That pattern surfaced recently in a dawn neck-slashing that rattled the same corridor. The avenue is lined with storefronts and side entrances that can be especially vulnerable to quick, smash-and-grab style burglaries.
Police and legal context
Under New York law, a break-in like this is treated as burglary when someone unlawfully enters or stays inside a building with the intent to commit a crime. Burglary is a felony, and prosecutors determine the degree based on details such as whether the location was a home or whether a weapon was involved, factors that can significantly affect potential prison time. The statute is laid out in the New York State Senate's summary of Article 140.
How to help
Police are urging anyone who was in the area, or who has security footage from around 4 p.m. that day, to contact Crime Stoppers. Tips can be submitted by sending a direct message to @NYPDTips on X or by calling 1-800-577-TIPS, according to the wanted notice posted by NYPD Crime Stoppers. People whose information leads to an arrest and indictment may qualify for a reward of up to $3,500, as outlined on the Crime Stoppers program page. Those who would rather speak directly with local detectives can find contact information for the precinct on the NYPD 43rd Precinct page.
