New York, New Jersey, Connecticut News: targeting

Saturday, 18 June 2011

Robber targeting women in Washington Heights

Jennifer Matarese, Eyewitness NewsWASHINGTON HEIGHTS (WABC) -- Police in Manhattan are searching for a brazen robber who's targeting women in Washington Heights. He's struck twice already, once inside of an elevator.

The first robbery happened in Washington Heights on Saturday, June 4th around 2 a.m.

The suspect grabbed a 26-year-old woman as she walked into her apartment building, pushed her into a wall and demanded her cell phone.

She gave him her phone and he ran away.

The victim suffered a cut to her eye, but was treated at the scene.

Then, just five days later on June 9th, the suspect struck again at 11:50 a.m. also in Washington Heights.

A 29-year-old woman was inside of the elevator in her apartment building, when the suspect got inside and pushed her against the wall as the doors closed.

The man demanded her cell phone and began to punch her, but she fought back.

When the elevator door opened, the suspect took off without getting her phone.

She received several bruises, but recovered from her injuries.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic man, about 5'8"-5'10" tall, weighing 200-220 lbs, and is partially bald and has a slight beard.

Anyone with information in regards to these robberies is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS.

You can also submit your tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or texting by your tips to 274637(CRIMES) and then entering TIP577.

new york city, robbery, washington heights, new york news

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Thursday, 12 May 2011

Plot thwarted as men targeting synagogues arrested

Eyewitness NewsMIDTOWN (WABC) -- Two men trying to buy guns and talking about attacking Manhattan synagogues were arrested, and city officials say a potential threat was thwarted.

The men were arrested Wednesday night in Midtown and will be appear in criminal court in Lower Manhattan later today.

They will be charged under the New York state's anti-terror laws. Federal prosecutors are aware of the case, but declined to charge them under federal terrorism laws.

This is the 13th plot thwarted against the city since the September 11th attacks, and the kind of homegrown, "lone-wolf" scenario that federal law enforcement officials were recently warned of.

Authorities say the suspects talked about attacking synagogues in Manhattan, but investigators believe they were planning out loud and no specific synagogue was selected.

The two men, Muslims of North African descent, had already obtained some guns and were trying to buy more more, as well as a grenade, according to police.

Their attempts were detected by investigators with the NYPD's Intelligence Division, who moved in to set up a sting.

One of the men, in his 20s, lives in Queens. That man was apparently going to sell drugs to buy the guns. He has prior arrests, including for drug possession.

The plan was already in the works at the time of Osama bin Laden's death, and is not believed to be in retaliation for the killing.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly are expected to discuss the arrests this afternoon at City Hall.

new york city, terror threat, terrorism, new york news

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