Crime & Safety
Thief Swipes Multiple Cameras In Central Park, Police Say
Police said the same thief is suspected to be behind at least two camera snatches in Central Park over the last two weeks.
CENTRAL PARK, NY — A camera-stealing crook is on the loose in Central Park, having targeted unsuspecting parkgoers and snatched their expensive equipment over the past two weeks, police said.
The first incident was reported on May 31, about 2:19 p.m., after a 34-year-old woman who was using a camera and tripod near West Drive and Terrace Drive inside Central Park was approached by a man who stole her equipment when she was not looking, police said.
The man then quickly fled in an unknown direction, officials said.
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The camera thief struck again one day later, on June 1, around 1:30 p.m., when a 73-year-old man was taking pictures near West Drive and the 79th Street Transverse.
Police stated that the crook walked up to the man and snatched the camera directly out of his hand before fleeing to another part of the park.
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No physical injuries were reported by the victims.
The NYPD has since released images captured on surveillance cameras of the alleged suspect they’re looking for.
Anyone with information in regard to the incident 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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