Nov 9, 2009 2:56 pm US/Eastern
Police Step Up Presence In Central Park
3 Held Up At Gunpoint On Sunday; 1 Suspect Arrested, 2 Accomplices Remain On The Loose
NYPD Steps-Up Patrol After Weekend Stick-Ups
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Police released the sketch of this suspect believed to be behind a mugging in Central Park in October 2009.
CBS
One robbery suspect is in custody Monday morning after three people were mugged at gunpoint in Central Park over the weekend, but police say his two accused accomplices remain on the loose.
The NYPD stepped-up its police presence overnight after the latest stick-ups. The recent criminal activity has some park-goers questioning just how safe the park is after dark.
Police say it happened on the East Drive at 102nd Street at 12:30 a.m. Sunday.
Two late-night strollers were walking along the eastern edge of the park when police say a trio of armed suspects snatched one victim's wallet and the other's ATM card. A third man walking nearby stumbled upon the stick-up and had his wallet stolen as well.
The victims called 9-1-1. Based on their descriptions police arrested 20-year-old Ramelle Moore a block from the park. He is being charged with robbery, but the two other suspects are still out there.
Police say they aren't sure if Moore and his associates had previously robbed people in the park. Reports of robberies in Central Park are down slightly so far this year, but there are still some unsolved stick-ups, like the search for a suspect in an October attack.
The recent brazen Central Park stick-ups has some New York City residents worried about a return to the "bad old days" of criminal activity in the park.
"I don't really think about my safety that much, but maybe I should be," said Upper East sider Peter Harris.
"I think if you walk where it is a wide road, it should be okay," said tourist Joanna Go.
Dog walker Larry Heatherington says he is not afraid, and will continue his after-dark strolls in the park, even with two suspects on the loose.
"The dog can protect me, don't you worry about it," Heatherington said.
The latest stick-ups should remind all New Yorkers: while this is a place to be enjoyed, it is also to be used with common sense and caution.
Despite all this, NYPD statistics reveal robberies in Central Park are actually slightly down so far this year compared to last, and are significantly lower than during those "bad old days" of rampant crime in the park.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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