What to Know
- A group of robbers have been targeting people on motorized bikes in or near Fort Washington Park, police say
- The victims are attacked with sticks or tree limbs, and knocked off the bikes late at night
- Crime is up across city parks 25 percent so far this year compared to the same time last year
Police are searching for a group of robbers who have been targeting people on motorized bicycles at a New York City park.
The thieves have used sticks and tree limbs to knock the victims off their bikes and rob them of their cash, phones and credit cards late at night in or near Fort Washington Park, police say.
The attacks happened between Aug. 15 and last Friday. The victims have been knocked off their bikes on 158th Street and Riverside Drive, 171st Street, 173rd Street and 177th Street.
In the most recent attack on 173rd Street and Riverside, police were able to put together a sketch of one of the suspects.
Fort Washington Park is one of the safest in the city, with only one reported robbery so far this year and none in 2015.
Violent crime in city parks overall, however, is up by 25 percent this year compared to last, with the exception of Central Park.
