A man wanted for allegedly ripping a 14-year-old girl's chain off her neck in broad daylight is now the focus of a new Crime Stoppers bulletin in Mott Haven. The robbery happened around 1:30 p.m. on March 20, 2025, in front of a building on East 137th Street. Witnesses told police the suspect bolted north toward Willis Avenue and East 138th Street. Police say the teenager hurt her hand during the incident but declined medical treatment at the scene.
What police released
In a Facebook bulletin from NYPD Crime Stoppers, detectives shared surveillance stills and a brief video clip on June 7 and asked the public to help put a name to the suspect. The post urges anyone with information to send a direct message to @NYPDTips or call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).
Scene and suspect description
According to police, the man walked up to the 14-year-old and forcibly yanked a chain and pendant from her neck before taking off on foot. Investigators have so far described him only as an unidentified individual. The address of the incident, his reported route of flight, and the detail that the girl refused medical treatment were reported by 1010 WINS.
Precinct trend
The case unfolds amid a run of robbery reports in the 40th Precinct, which covers Port Morris, Mott Haven and Melrose. A boroughwide roundup in June 2025 found robberies in the 40th jumping from 51 to 71 in a 28-day comparison, a spike that helps explain why detectives are leaning hard on public tips, according to the Bronx Times.
How to help
Anyone with information on the chain-snatching can pass along an anonymous tip through the NYPD Crime Stoppers program by visiting the website or calling 1-800-577-TIPS. The program notes that tipsters may qualify for a cash reward if their information leads to an arrest and indictment. For more on how tips are handled and the different ways to submit them, see NYPD Crime Stoppers.
