LOWER MANHATTAN — A trio of armed robbers struck Lower Manhattan in back-to-back attacks last week, threatening a man with a knife near Pace University and then beating a woman to the ground in TriBeCa shortly afterward, police said.
The group's first victim, a man in his 20s, told police that he was approached by three men as he walked along Beekman Street, near Nassau Street, about 1 a.m on Jan. 2.
Sensing trouble, he tried to cross the street, but the men quickly blocked his path and threw him to the ground, police said. One of the robbers then pulled out a “large combat knife,” according to police reports, and shoved it toward the victim while demanding his iPhone and wallet.
The men grabbed the items, then took off toward City Hall, police said.
About 20 minutes later, the pack went after another victim, a woman walking along Cortlandt Alley in TriBeCa, police said. The woman told officers that she suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder, then was pushed facedown to the ground.
One man started to scream, “Give me the money,” while smashing the woman’s face into the pavement, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's criminal complaint.
The men then rummaged through her pockets and took off once they found her iPhone and wallet, police said. They left her facedown on the ground, with gashes on her face that required stitches, authorities said.
Police were able to capture one of the alleged thieves, 32-year-old David Young, after canvassing the area soon after the crimes.
Young was charged with one count of first degree robbery and two counts of second degree robbery, which are felonies, the DA's office said. He faces up to 25 years in prison for the top charge.
He's due back in court on Jan. 10, according to court records.
A call to his attorney was not immediately returned.
The other two suspects had not been arrested as of Thursday afternoon, police said.
Other notable crimes in the 1st Precinct include:
► Two men pretending to be Department of Sanitation employees managed to swipe $400 from South Street Seaport bar and restaurant Fresh Salt on Dec. 30, police said. The thieves entered the 146 Beekman St. spot at 8:30 a.m., telling an employee that he needed to come outside and clean up some garbage on the street or the restaurant would be ticketed, according to police. When the employee walked outside, one of the men grabbed $400 that was in a bag underneath the cash register, police said. The two thieves then fled. The restaurant did not return a request for comment.
► Police are after a woman who still hasn’t returned her rental car, four months after picking up the 2012 Toyota Camry from Hertz Rent-A-Car at 56 Fulton St. The car rental agency told officers that the woman rented the car from Sept. 10 to 14, but never brought the vehicle back.
► A robber stole $1,700 from fast-casual Vietnamese eatery Obao, after breaking into the 38 Water St. restaurant a little after midnight on Jan. 2, police said. The man, caught on surveillance footage, broke into the restaurant by slamming his shoulder into an entrance, and stole the cash from two registers before fleeing.
► A thief swiped a total of $420 in cash by breaking into four gym lockers at Planet Fitness at 25 Broadway on Jan. 6, police said. Four men told police that when they returned to their lockers at about 9:30 p.m. after working out, their locks had been busted open and money was removed from several of their wallets.
► A man swiped a $2,500 pair of diamond earrings from Korner Jewelry at 165 Church St. on Jan. 2 at about 12:55 p.m., police said. Store employees told police that the man asked to view the earrings, which were in a display case, then grabbed the pair and ran out of the shop.
► Two Danish tourists had a piece of their luggage stolen as they stood on the corner of West Broadway and Leonard Street, looking at their phone, on Jan. 3 at 6 p.m., police said. The tourists told police that a man swiped the bag — which contained $900 in cash, as well as two Hugo Boss jackets, worth $500 and $700 — and ran off.
► A woman had her $400 Kate Spade bag stolen after leaving it on a chair while she paid for books at the 97 Warren St. Barnes & Noble, police said. The purse contained $600 in cash.
