NYPD issues warning following series of robberies in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx
NEW YORK -- A warning was issued Sunday to residents following a series of armed muggings at a Bronx park.
The NYPD said two women and a man were targeted in broad daylight at Van Cortlandt Park last month.
As the first snowfall of the season came to a close Sunday, New Yorkers made their way to the park with some reservations.
"It's a great park. It's an amazing park. It's a shame that is going on," Nicole Limperopulos said.
Limperopulos walks her dog, Finn, around there daily, but she's now on alert, knowing about the three robberies on the trails last month.
"I don't carry a wallet with me. Not having a phone is hard thing," Limperopulos said.
What's more concerning is police said all three crimes happened in the afternoon. The first came on Dec. 13, when a man jogging on Forest Trail inside the park had his cellphone and running belt snatched by one suspect, who had two accomplices on a moped.
Detectives said things got more serious six days later, when a suspect on a dirt bike showed a knife and robbed a woman of her cellphone.
Then on Christmas Eve, there was a similar incident. A suspect pulled up behind a jogger on a trail and displayed a screwdriver before getting away with a phone.
"Dude has a knife and is holding people sort of up for their phones at knifepoint. Not great," Limperopulos said.
Fidel Vidal is part of the New York Road Runners and trains in the park. He has been given the warnings.
"They have suggested to run in groups because if you are by yourself, you become a target," Vidal said.
Park police were seen on Sunday patrolling.
"It's unfortunate they have to be here under these circumstances, but it's nice seeing them," park goer Richard Chen said.
That provided some sense of relief, but some said there should be warning signs.
"No posters, no postings," Limperopulos. "It's like a sitting duck. If we know there is this problem in the park, right? Obviously kind of being able to walk together or being able to give each other a heads up."
The NYPD is also monitoring the park closely and detectives are working to see if the incidents are connected.