Gunpoint Robberies Rock Parkchester

By Dan Gesslein

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 3- Parkchester residents have been rocked by a pair of early morning gunpoint robberies. Police have released surveillance video of the suspects in the hopes of capturing the perps.

Investigators are asking for the public's help in capturing the robbery crew which consists of three men and two women. At around 9:24a.m. on June 21, cops say the crew robbed a woman at gunpoint on a Parkchester street. The 40-year-old was walking down the street when a man approached her and pointed a gun at her head. As the gunman removed the victim's purse from her shoulder, a man and a woman acted as lookouts. They made off with the victim's purse but not before their images were captured in surveillance video.

Cops got a break when the fifth member of the crew used the victim's credit card. Her image was captured on a store's surveillance video. Police released images from the videos in the hopes of capturing the crew.

The gunman is described as a black male, six feet tall. He has a slim build and was last seen wearing a blue t-shirt, dark pants, sunglasses a red hat and was carrying a firearm. The crew member suspected of using the stolen credit card is a black woman in her mid 40s. She was last seen wearing a white short sleeve shirt, white hat,and sunglasses.

In an unrelated case another woman was robbed at gunpoint in Parkchester. Police are asking for the public's help in trying to catch a gunman who mugged a woman outside her Parkchester building.

The attack took place around 7:15 a.m. On July 1, cops say the 44-year-old was walking to her car at the rear of her building when she was approached by the suspect. The man pulled out a handgun and demanded her purse. He then made off with the victim's property.

Cops released surveillance video from the rear door of 1680 Metrpolitan Avenue. Standing in the open doorway the suspect looks directly at the camera.The gunman is described as a black male in his 20s, he is 6 foot 2 and 200 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black shirt, black pants, black sneakers and a black Du-rag on his head.

Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS.The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

All calls are confidential.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Mugger Caught on Tape

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Mugger Caught on Tape: By Dan Gesslein BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 3- Police are asking for the public's help in trying to catch a gunman who mugged a woman outsi...

Mugger Caught on Tape

By Dan Gesslein

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 3- Police are asking for the public's help in trying to catch a gunman who mugged a woman outside her Parkchester building.

The attack took place around 7:15 a.m. On July 1, cops say the 44-year-old was walking to her car at the rear of her building when she was approached by the suspect. The man pulled out a handgun and demanded her purse. He then made off with the victim's property.

Cops released surveillance video from the rear door of 1680 Metrpolitan Avenue. Standing in the open doorway the suspect looks directly at the camera.The gunman is described as a black male in his 20s, he is 6 foot 2 and 200 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black shirt, black pants, black sneakers and a black Du-rag on his head.

Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS.The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

All calls are confidential.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Bright Beetles light up Zoo

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Bright Beetles light up Zoo:   A frog beetle displays iridescent coloration in its exhibit at JungleWorld at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo. Frog beet...

Bright Beetles light up Zoo

 

A frog beetle displays iridescent coloration in its exhibit at JungleWorld at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo. Frog beetles are one of an estimated 400,000 species of beetles.

The frog beetle is native to the jungles of Southeast Asia. Their back legs are large in comparison to their bodies, giving them a frog-like appearance. Their legs are covered with thousands of hair follicles to help them climb and cling to foliage.

The males are larger than their female counterparts, and both have a very reflective, metallic exoskeleton.

The Bronx Zoo’s JungleWorld houses animals from tropical Asia. WCS works to save wildlife and habitats throughout the Asian continent.

The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays, 5:30 p.m. weekends from April to October; 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m November to March. Adult admission is $16.95, children (3-12 years old) $11.95, children under 3 are free, seniors (65+) are $14.95. Parking is $14 for cars and $16 for buses. The Bronx Zoo is conveniently located off the Bronx River Parkway at Exit 6; by train via the #2 or #5 or by bus via the #9, #12, #19, #22, MetroNorth, or BxM11 Express Bus service (from Manhattan that stops just outside the gate.) To plan your trip, visit bronxzoo.comor call 718-367-1010

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Stop-n-Risk?

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Stop-n-Risk?: Council Passes Bills Creating Change at the NYPD Curbing stop -n-frisk will be blessing or curse for NYC? By David Greene BRONX, NEW Y...

Stop-n-Risk?

Council Passes Bills Creating Change at the NYPD
Curbing stop -n-frisk will be blessing or curse for NYC?

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 1- In a decisive vote against the NYPD's controversial stop-and- frisk policy, the New York City Council has passed two pieces of legislation, which could create change in the way police officers conduct business.

During a two-and-a-half hour vote that ended in the wee hours of Friday, June 28, council members voted 40-11 to appoint an inspector general to oversee tactics used by the NYPD and 34-17 to allow individuals to file civil claims in state court on racial profiling.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has vowed to veto both measures, told reporters, "These dangerous pieces of legislation will only hurt our police officers' ability to protect New Yorkers."

Bronx council members Fernando Cabrera and Oliver Koppell voted in favor of the legislation, while Majority Leader Joel Rivera and James Vacca voted against them.

Back in May, federal judge Shira Scheindlin stated that the NYPD's policy, "Displays a deeply troubling attitude towards... fundamental constitutional rights."

Police Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch told 1010 WINS, "If they don't change their vote, we're going to make sure they're not in office."

According to the latest statistics released by the NYPD, officers stopped more than 685,000 in 2011, with 87 percent of those stopped being Black or Latino.