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Teens Are Robbing Peers for Cellphones on Hillside Avenue, Police Say

By Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska | June 14, 2017 10:17pm
 A group of teens robbed eight other teens of their cellphones in broad daylight on Hillside Avenue in Jamaica over the past three weeks, police officials said.
A group of teens robbed eight other teens of their cellphones in broad daylight on Hillside Avenue in Jamaica over the past three weeks, police officials said.
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QUEENS — A group of teens robbed eight other teens of their cellphones in broad daylight on Hillside Avenue in Jamaica over the past three weeks, police officials said.

The first incident took place on May 27, according to Captain John Ganley, executive officer for the 103rd Precinct, who discussed the incidents at a community council meeting Tuesday night. 

Since then, the robbers stole cellphones from seven more teens on Hillside Avenue, between 143rd and 171st streets.

Each time, one or two suspects who were approximately 16 to 17 years old approached their victims who were about 13 to 16 years old and asked, “Do you have the time?" according to police officials.

In two cases, they also pulled out a knife, authorities said. 

The robbers would then snatch the victims' cellphones before fleeing on foot. 

Each of the incidents took place early in the afternoon, shortly after dismissal time, as the victims were on their way home from school, said Ganley, noting that additional patrols have been monitoring the area in recent days.

There are several schools along that portion of Hillside Avenue, including Hillcrest High School, Hillside Arts and Letters Academy and P.S. 95.