Police Search For Group Of Suspects Behind Violent Muggings In Queens
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Police are trying to track down a group of men behind two violent muggings in Queens.
In both cases, the victims were attacked on the street in Ozone Park, CBS2's Aundrea Cline-Thomas reports.
On July 10, a 68-year-old man was punched, kicked and robbed near 117th Street and 111th Avenue. The suspects took $20 and the victim's backpack.
Surveillance video from the second incident just before 10:30 p.m. on July 29 shows three suspects beat up a 34-year-old man before stealing his wallet and cellphone charger.
"It's sad what's going on in this world today. You've got to watch - every day - watch over your shoulder," Queens resident Sandy Tolsi said.
"We have to increase their patrolling and more security cameras, so they can find out these things," said resident Ragender Singh.
The victims were not seriously hurt.
"[They're] not no kind of big thief. They're just hustling for a little thing. What are they going to do with a cellphone? Sell it?" resident Jairam Renga wondered. "They're going to get caught. They know when and who to do it with."
Anyone with information is asked to call NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish. You can also submit a tip via the Crime Stoppers website, by Tweeting @NYPDTips or by texting a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) and then entering TIP577.