MANHATTAN — A thief tried to rob a pair of men twice at two different locations before assaulting one of them in Washington Heights, police said.
The male suspect first followed a 22-year-old man and his friend into the 1 train station at 96th Street on Sept. 3 at about 3:50 a.m. and grabbed the 22-year-old’s cellphone and tried to flee, according to the NYPD. The two men were able to get the phone back and then boarded a northbound train.
But the robber followed them.
He then got off the train with them at 157th Street and again tried to rob them, this time trying to grab the 22-year-old’s bicycle, police said.
The pair fought him off again, but not before the robber damaged the bike and then assaulted the 22-year-old before fleeing empty handed. Police did not say whether the 22-year-old was injured.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.
