Four men are on the run after police say they surrounded a 16-year-old and stole his scooter in a fast-moving stickup in Highbridge on Saturday afternoon. Witnesses and officers say the crew snatched the teen's keys, one man slapped him in the face, and two of the suspects sped off on the scooter while the other two bolted on foot.
According to News12 The Bronx, the suspects encircled the teen near 1430 Plimpton Ave around 2 p.m. Police say one man pretended to have a gun and demanded the teen's property while another slapped him, and the teen handed over his keys. Investigators say two of the men then rode the scooter southbound on Edward L. Grant Highway as the other two ran off, and the victim suffered only minor injuries and did not need to be hospitalized.
Police ask for tips and footage
Detectives are asking anyone with information or surveillance video to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS. According to the New York City Police Foundation, tips can be submitted anonymously and may be eligible for a cash reward if they lead to an arrest and indictment.
How this fits a wider pattern
Local reporting has documented a recent run of group robberies and scooter-linked attacks across the Bronx, including a March subway assault that led to a wanted bulletin and fresh calls for video evidence. As reported in coverage of a scooter-swinging crew that jumped teens on a Bronx 2 train, authorities have repeatedly urged witnesses to keep original file names and timestamps on footage so investigators can move faster.
What neighbors can do
Anyone who may have seen the Highbridge robbery is urged to recall details like clothing, masks and shoes, and to save any dash-cam or door-cam video that might have caught the crew. Police say the suspects were all in black clothing, with two wearing black ski masks, one in a black durag and one in gray sneakers. No arrests have been announced, and detectives are still canvassing the area for leads; anyone with tips can call Crime Stoppers or reach out to their local precinct for more information, according to News12 The Bronx.
