A crew of violent jewelry robbers has been targeting Bronx residents for several months – in one case making off with a chain worth $17,000, police said this week.
The NYPD on Sunday released a surveillance image of one of the suspects – shown wearing a black hoodie while riding a scooter – who is believed to be part of the gang behind the muggings of at least 10 people on or near the grounds of NYCHA’s Sotomayor Houses in Soundview since April.
In each case, the fiends either flashed guns, used pepper spray or beat up their victims – nine men and one woman – before snatching their loot, police said.
The spree began on April 10 at around 7:30 p.m., when a group of “unidentified individuals” armed with guns came up to a 38-year-old man outside 1003 Soundview Avenue and ripped off his gold chain, according to cops.
The next day at around 1:45 p.m., the crew, again wielding guns, accosted a 53-year-old man outside 1257 Beach Avenue, pepper-sprayed him in the face and then took off his diamond ring before running away, police said.
At around 4:30 p.m. on April 23, the suspects came up to a 39-year-old man on Bruckner Boulevard near Underhill Avenue, flashing “cutting instruments” and making it seem as if they had guns, cops said.
They pummeled the victim before grabbing his chain – valued at around $17,000 – and running off toward the Sotomayor Houses, police said.
The victim was treated at the scene by EMS.
In the most recent reported incident, from around 3 p.m. on Sept. 11, the crew ambushed a 49-year-old man on Bruckner Boulevard near Beach Avenue while holding guns, cops said.
They grabbed the victim’s bracelet and chain before taking off.
The victims in the string of robberies ranged in age from 38 to 61, cops said.
No arrests have been made.
