Two guys teamed up to rip off a 14-year-old outside a Chinatown homeless shelter, after pinning him against a scaffolding like a tag team in a wrestling match.
The incident occurred Fri., Nov. 13, around 11:30 a.m. outside the New York City Rescue Mission, at 90 Lafayette St., two blocks south of Canal St., according to police.
One of the muggers, who appeared to be disabled, held the teen, who was slight, against a scaffolding pole while the second robber yanked away the youth’s property. The thieves struck the boy in the face repeatedly, police said.
The pair of perps stole the victims’s jacket and his shoulder bag, which contained his wallet, $4 in cash and his cell phone. They then fled on foot southbound on Lafayette St.
E.M.S. removed the victim to New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital with minor injuries.
A little more than two hours after the robbery, police arrested one of the alleged suspects, Charles Destefano, 35, who was listed as living at the homeless shelter.
The second suspect — who nonchalantly puffed on a cigarette throughout the robbery — was still at large. He was described as bearded and wearing a black-hooded coat, a pink sweater, black pants and multicolored sneakers.
Police ask that anyone with information call the N.Y.P.D.’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Tips can also be submitted on the Crime Stoppers Web site at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or on Twitter at @NYPDTips. All tips are strictly confidential.
Be First to Comment