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2 Men Beaten and Robbed in 191st Street Tunnel After Lights Added

By Lindsay Armstrong | October 24, 2014 5:55pm | Updated on October 27, 2014 9:01am
 The Department of Transportation announced plans to replace the lighting and make some repairs to the dilapidated tunnel.
1 Train Tunnel
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FORT GEORGE — Two men were mugged by a group of people in the 191st Street 1 train tunnel last week, shortly after brighter lights were added to the formerly dim passageway, police said.

The pair was walking through the tunnel, which connects Broadway with the 191st Street 1 train station, on Sunday, Oct. 19, about 9:30 p.m. when they were confronted by a group of at least three men, police sources said.

The victims, a 25- and a 27-year-old man, were each punched in the face and had their cellphones — and iPhone and a Samsung — taken before the attackers fled on foot, police said. The extent of the injuries was unknown, though none of the victims went to the hospital, police said. 

All three suspects were described as men in the 20s. No arrests have been made, police added.

The incident occurred only days after the Department of Transportation replaced all of the lights in the dark and dreary tunnel with brighter LED fixtures. Walk-throughs of the tunnel by city officials on October 15 and 23  showed the new lights had been installed and were working well.

Residents previously said they appreciated the new lighting, but several commented on the need for additional security measures, like cameras or a phone to contact police in case of emergency.

Despite the tunnel’s appearance, which has included graffiti and trash, a police source said it is not often the site of crimes.

However, the source acknowledged that it can seem daunting for commuters.

“It can be an intimidating tunnel," the source said. "There’s nowhere to go once you’re in there but forward or back.”