Caught On Camera: Robber Snatches Money From Woman's Hand At Bronx ATM
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police are on the hunt for a suspect wanted for a brazen broad daylight robbery.
This as the NYPD announced overall crime is up in the city, CBSN New York's Reena Roy reported Wednesday.
As video shows, it happened in a matter of seconds. A suspect is seen bursting through the doors of a Bronx deli as a 34-year-old woman, minding her own business, withdraws cash from an ATM. The suspect forces it from her hands as she tries to resist and, despite an employee stepping in, he is able to get away with $30.
"It was very scary," one person said.
"I've been in this neighborhood about three years now and it's no surprise. Crime has gone up in this neighborhood," Parkchester resident James Derringer said.
MORE: De Blasio Defends Policing Policies As NYPD Statistics Show Rise In Shootings, Other Major Crimes
Police said it happened at around 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 26 on Beach Avenue near Merrill Street. It is just one of many incidents of late that have New Yorkers on edge.
When asked if he feels safe in the city, Derringer said, "No, absolutely not. I don't feel safe here."
After years of a declining crime rate in the city, things have taken a turn. The NYPD and Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that overall crime is up nearly 17% compared to this time last year.
Robberies, like the one in Parkchester, are up almost 37%. There were 943 last January, but there were nearly 1,300 last month.
Meanwhile, shootings are up nearly 29% and transit crimes nearly 30%. The only two major crimes down compared to last year are murder, down 20%, and rape, down 18%.
Derringer said he has even been considering getting of out of town for good.
"I see a lot more people out on streets drinking, doing drugs. It's definitely getting worse," Derringer said. "My wife and I have been discussing moving for the past couple of months now, maybe upstate New York somewhere, just to get out of here."
The Police Benevolent Association called the uptick a "public safety emergency." But Mayor de Blasio defended his policies, insisting New Yorkers live in the safest big city in America.
"There are a lot of people out there who are fear mongers who are trying to denigrate New York City," de Blasio said.
Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said to address the spike in crime the NYPD is launching a new youth program to help police-community relations in hopes of keeping kids on the right path.
As for that ATM robbery, police are still searching for the suspect. Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call the 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 274637.
