Mugging Renews Fears That Central Park Is Unsafe After Dark

Photograph by Jake Dobkin

A brazen gunpoint mugging in Central Park has the papers pondering whether or not it's safe to pass through the green-space at night. The discussion comes after three muggers held up two men who were walking near the intersection of East Drive and East 102nd Street on Sunday at around 12:30 am. According to the Daily News, one of the perps pulled out a gun while his accomplices snatched a wallet and an ATM card from the victims, aged 25 and 22. When a 46-year-old passerby happened upon the scene of the crime, the robbers held him up and stole his wallet. After the perps fled, the victims hailed down a passerby and called 911. Police canvassed the area and arrested 20-year-old suspect Ramelle Moore, whose arrest record includes busts for drug possession and trespassing. The other suspects remain at large.

The Post reports that this is the third violent incident in Central Park in the past 10 days. On Nov. 2, two muggers held up a 62-year-old and took his Blackberry, wallet, $100, credit cards, and IDs near the intersection of East Drive and the Great Lawn at around 7:20 pm. And on Oct. 29, two assailants put a 21-year-old man in a choke-hold and struck him on his forehead on a trail near 97th Street and West Drive at around 4:10 pm. Though crime is down in the park overall this year, police have increased their presence in the wake of the most recent stick-up, according to WCBS.

Some park users were surprised by the muggings, but others acknowledged that crime can happen anywhere. "When you walk through the park that late, you're playing Russian Roulette," said Ruby Pearson, 60, an art dealer whose son was robbed in Central Park earlier this year. "99.9 % of the time, it's going to be fine, but all it takes is one desperate guy and you're going to be in trouble." Dog walker Larry Heatherington said he has no fear when he visits in Central after dark. "The dog can protect me, don't you worry about it."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Ben Muessig in News on November 9, 2009 11:11 AM

Comments [rss]

ed_Extinct

and this is the reason food deliveries aren't made in east harlem.

JacqueMehoff

I've always thought the CP precinct was one of the safest in the entire city. response time should be minimal.

or, get them electric bikes or horses to patrol the pathways.

do the call boxes work?

Snoopy

You have got to be kidding. Perhaps during daylight hours when the pony patrol is out doing their touristico trotbys, but give me a break. To see a beat cop walking around after dark is hardly the norm. A sector car driving around every half hour is about the maximum coverage the NYPD will give to the park.

inoyourider

Fuck these scumbags.

Send them off to be raped in Rikers.

I don't care what time it is.

East 102 is not that bad and we shouldn't let it be.

Neither is West 97.

Tar_Baby

"Teeth and Eyes"

hahahaha!

HBHB

East 102nd street? Park or no park, you stand a good chance of getting mugged. Plus, walking through any park this deep at night regardless of the city is most likely dangerous.

ckl

oh my god you fucking pansy

Wza

William Foster!

err..that was LA, but I got caught up in the moment.

Bleh..common sense should've kicked in though.

shitshow

charles bronson!

Spirit of 76

Bernard Goetz!

SC

Peter Venkman!

robingee

Travis Bickle!

Think2wice

Jodie Foster!

NannyState

John Hinckley!

Kojak

"East 102nd Street on Sunday at around 12:30 am"

Its common knowledge that you DON'T walk around Central Park North that late at night, but I'm not condoning the actions of the perps.

But come on people, learn some common sense.

Sketto

4:10pm? 7:20pm? That's late at night?

I think just the opposite. Muggers prefer quiet parks, not crowds. Let's not hand over the park at dusk to the fuckers. So, let's all go the park every night and have a party.

Make keggers, not war.

hotstepper

i like your style.

hotstepper

the time seems irrelevant. the other recent robberies occurred in the late afternoon and early evening. solution: arm yourself.

Sir Bonkers

They're good kids!

Snoopy

And to think those two guys were only taking a shortcut through the park to get Chinese take out because the lousy restaurant wouldn't deliver above 96 street.