Thieves on e-bikes wanted in string of robberies targeting women's chains in Manhattan
UPPER WEST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) -- Police are working to track down a group of thieves connected to a string of robberies while on scooters or e-bikes in Manhattan
The muggings spanned from the Upper West Side to Midtown where three women were accosted in separate incidents.
The first was reported on August 5, when a 64-year-old woman told police that two people approached her on a motorized scooter near West 65th Street and West End Avenue around 8:30 p.m.
She told police that a necklace was snatched from her before she was pushed to the ground.
The thieves were able to get away northbound Amsterdam Avenue and the victim was taken to Mount Sinai West.
Less than a week later on August 11, a 25-year-old woman was also approached by two people on an electric scooter on the corner of 50th Street and Eighth Avenue. She also had a chain snatched from her neck.
The woman was not injured during the ordeal but the pair got away down Eighth Avenue.
And a third incident happened September 7 just after 7:30 p.m. in Midtown at the corner of West 47th Street and Eighth Avenue.
A 22-year-old woman told police that two people on an e-bike rode up to her and snatched her chain off of her neck. She was not injured in the incident.
The suspects left on the e-bike southbound on Eighth Avenue. One individual was arrested.
On Tuesday night a town hall meeting was held in Manhattan by those concerned over street violence from e-bike and mopeds. Advocates for safer streets argued e-bike, e-scooters and mopeds have made the walking city dangerous for pedestrians.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
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