A violent morning robbery in the Wakefield section of the Bronx has police hunting for three men accused of ambushing a 68-year-old woman and snatching her purse. Investigators say the group threw the woman to the ground, struck her in the head multiple times and then took off on foot with her bag, leaving commuters and neighbors badly shaken.
Paramedics rushed the victim to Montefiore Medical Center, where officials say she is expected to recover from her injuries.
What police released
According to the NYPD, the attack unfolded just before 10 a.m. in front of the Vybe Hotel at 4600 White Plains Road. One man allegedly grabbed the woman’s purse while two others stood watch, then the trio ran off after the assault, as reported by News 12.
Police have not announced any arrests. Investigators are canvassing the block for witnesses and surveillance footage, and detectives say they will be pulling video from nearby cameras to track the suspects’ movements.
Violent pattern near White Plains Road
The robbery comes on the heels of other serious incidents along White Plains Road this spring. Earlier this year, local coverage detailed a fatal stabbing on White Plains Road in May, as well as additional shootings and stabbings that have left residents unsettled.
Reports note that police in the corridor are increasingly leaning on public tips and surveillance video to identify suspects, and community members say they have recently asked for more visible patrols in the area.
How to help
Anyone with information is urged to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or submit an anonymous tip online via the department’s Crime Stoppers page; tips may be eligible for a reward, according to NYPD Crime Stoppers.
Police are also asking residents who were in the area that morning to check any phone, doorbell or dash-camera footage and share relevant clips with investigators.
