In a brazen late-night stickup straight out of a heist movie, the NYPD says four people yanked a 49-year-old man from his car near East 174 Street and Townsend Avenue, flashed firearms, then took off with his pricey jewelry and cash. The May 11 robbery netted two necklaces, a bracelet valued at about $27,000, and roughly $500 in cash, according to police. The group reportedly sped away eastbound on East 174th Street in a white Acura SUV.
Investigators are now asking for the public’s help, releasing surveillance stills on May 29 that show four unidentified individuals believed to be involved. According to the NYPD Crime Stoppers Facebook post, the group pulled up in a white Acura SUV around 1:20 a.m., then “forcibly” removed the victim from his vehicle before robbing him at gunpoint. The post includes several close-up frames of the suspects and urges anyone with video or information to contact detectives.
Robbery Took Place Along East 174th Corridor
Local TV coverage captured what appears to be the same pre-dawn holdup in the Mount Eden area on May 11. News12 New York reported that three people approached a man near East 174th Street and Jerome Avenue around 1:30 a.m., took jewelry and cash, then fled the scene. The timing and location line up with the Crime Stoppers alert, suggesting both outlets are describing the same gunpoint robbery.
Neighborhood Seeing Repeat Jewelry Heists
The East 174th Street corridor has not exactly been quiet on the robbery front. Police and local outlets have flagged multiple recent incidents involving jewelry and street stickups along that stretch. An earlier report documented related thefts in the same general area, and the newly released stills suggest detectives are now trying to see whether this latest case connects to that pattern. Investigators are also hoping someone recognizes the people in the images and comes forward.
How To Reach Crime Stoppers
The NYPD’s Crime Stoppers program takes anonymous tips by phone at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) and, for Spanish, at 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Tips can also be submitted through its online portal, where they may be eligible for a cash reward, according to the NYPD Crime Stoppers website. The Facebook post also invites people to message the department’s X account @NYPDTips with any photos or video that might help.
What Charges the Crew Could Face
Because the robbers reportedly displayed firearms during the heist, prosecutors could pursue robbery in the first degree, a class B felony under New York Penal Law §160.15, which covers forcible theft committed while armed or while displaying what appears to be a firearm. As of the latest Crime Stoppers update, no arrests have been announced.
Anyone who thinks they recognize the individuals shown in the stills or who captured footage from the area is urged to save that material and contact Crime Stoppers right away. Police warn people not to confront the suspects themselves. If a crime is underway, call 911.
