Two men were held at gunpoint and bound with duct tape during a violent home invasion near Linden Street and Cypress Avenue in Ridgewood, leaving them unable to move as intruders made off with several gold chains. Officers from the 104th Precinct responded just after 10 p.m. to a robbery report, and no arrests have been made as the case remains under investigation.
According to amNewYork, the first victim told officers that two unknown perpetrators kicked in his apartment door and forced their way into the residence, according to law enforcement sources cited in the report. A second man told authorities he had come to the apartment to check on what was happening, only to be swept into the same ordeal. Police say the suspects then restrained both men with duct tape, leaving them immobilized while removing multiple gold chains from one of the victims.
Suspects Fled on Foot and by Moped
Both victims declined medical attention at the scene despite being physically restrained during the robbery, the outlet's report notes. Police say the perpetrators fled the location on foot and by moped. The 104th Precinct's detective squad has an ongoing investigation into the incident, though the report indicates no arrests have been made.
The precinct, which polices western Queens neighborhoods including Ridgewood, Glendale, Middle Village and Maspeth, is commanded by Captain Joshua Rios as of 2026, according to the NYPD. The precinct's main facility sits on Catalpa Avenue in Ridgewood, placing this week's robbery investigation squarely within its jurisdiction alongside the detective squad's other open cases in the neighborhood.
A Pattern of Armed Break-Ins in the Neighborhood
This is not the first time Ridgewood residents have faced an armed break-in this year. In March, two men posing as gas company workers forced their way into a Ridgewood home at gunpoint and took a cellphone from the 27-year-old victim before fleeing on foot, in an earlier case Hoodline covered that was also investigated by the 104th Precinct. It remains unclear whether detectives suspect any connection between that break-in and this week's robbery.
The moped getaway also fits into a broader citywide enforcement push. In 2026, the NYPD had seized 5,700 illegal scooters and mopeds, according to the department. The moped used in the Ridgewood robbery was part of the reported getaway. According to the NYPD, the department had seized more than 13,000 illegal two-wheeled vehicles and ATVs so far in 2024, bringing the total to nearly 42,000 since the start of the initiative. The NYPD reported on July 2, 2026, that year-to-date e-bike seizures were up 273% (816 vs. 219), while moped, e-scooter, and motorcycle seizures were up 3% (10,970 vs. 10,655).
Potential Charges Under New York Law
The conduct described in the case could implicate some of New York's most serious felony statutes. Forcibly stealing property while displaying a firearm constitutes Robbery in the First Degree under New York Penal Law § 160.15, a Class B violent felony carrying up to 25 years in state prison, according to Justia. The account describes suspects kicking in a door to enter a residence while displaying a firearm.
The account describes victims being bound with duct tape, but it does not establish whether that conduct meets the elements of Unlawful Imprisonment in the First Degree under New York Penal Law § 135.10. The report states that no arrests had been made in connection with the Ridgewood robbery.
Wider Crime Trends Across the City
The Ridgewood robbery arrives even as overall violent crime across New York City has been trending downward. NYPD statistics from July showed violent crime citywide down nearly 13% in July, with July closing out the safest first seven months on record, according to FOX 5 New York. Felony assaults declined 6.4% in July, according to NYPD data.
The available account does not provide further details about local public-safety measures in Ridgewood.
How to Submit a Tip
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers, which offers confidential cash rewards of up to $3,500 for tips leading to an arrest and indictment. Tips can be submitted through the Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-577-TIPS, or through the Spanish-language line at 888-57-PISTA, with all submissions kept confidential.
