MANHATTAN — A thief robbed two men in Central Park on separate occasions by putting them in a chokehold before running off with their belongings, police said.
The suspect, who wears a bucket hat according to a police sketch of him, first robbed a 47-year-old man near East 74th Street and East Drive just after midnight on Aug. 18, according to the NYPD.
Two days later, he tried to strike up a conversation with a man, also 47, around the same area and time, before putting him in a chokehold and robbing him, police said.
Neither victim's name was released.
The suspect, who is about 6-foot-5, used the chokehold to bring the men to the ground and take their things, police said.
He took a backpack with $7, a debit card and two credit cards from the first victim, police said. Then he stole a bag with $140 in cash and a debit card from the other man.
Neither man required medical attention, an NYPD spokesman said.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477).