Nov 10, 2009 6:18 am US/Eastern
Central Park Robberies Spark Fear Among Residents
3 Held Up At Gunpoint On Sunday; 1 Suspect Arrested, 2 Accomplices Remain On The Loose, But Sketches Released
NYPD: Robbery Third In As Many Weeks
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Police on Nov. 9 released the sketch of the suspects believed to be a recent rash of robberies and muggings in Central Park.
CBS
A rash of robberies in Central Park ended with people held up while jogging and strolling the trails.
Now there's a reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects. The NYPD released sketches of two of them on Monday night.
A day after the latest mugging, Central Park was its usual packed place with runners and walkers in the lit and not so lit paths.
"It's not going to stop me from going about my daily routine but I'm definitely going to be more cautious," Central Park walker Jacqueline Oliver said.
The cautiousness came after three nighttime muggings in the past 10 days. Women and men were among the victims.
"The economy, the way it is, might bring in more riff raff to prey on some of the tourists," runner James Miller said.
On Monday night police made their presence known after the latest attack that occurred at 12:30 a.m. Sunday -- three men held up at gunpoint -- wallets and ATM cards among the casualties. Despite that.
Police said the armed thieves are targeting the upper parts of Central Park. All the attacks happened from 86th Street and above. Walkers and runners were among the targets.
"I don't have anything on me so I feel like that's so stupid to rob a runner," Ashley Kennedy said.
Not only are victims are being targeted late at night, but also early in the evening.
"It's definitely scary, especially at 7:30 at night," Lyndsey Osorio said.
Police have two sketches of some of the suspects and while some are unnerved, others said they are not going to let the attacks stop them from doing what they have to do.
"It can happen anywhere," Natalie Polson said.
"I will still do my walk in the park with my dog and not really worry about it," Carol Carrozelli said.
Others are questioning their safety for the first time.
"I come from a country where there's a lot of violence in Brazil and so on and you feel very safe in New York until now. I might have second thoughts," Christina MacDonald said.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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