[quijibo]

GANGS' TERROR IN PARK

PROSPECT ROB BLITZ


By LARRY CELONA and GEORGETT ROBERTS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 30, 2006 -- EXCLUSIVE

Teenage wolf packs have mugged nine people in and around Brooklyn's Prospect Park in the past six weeks - and three in 10 days, police said yesterday.

Most of the victims were teens who found themselves suddenly surrounded by a larger group of youths, typically five to eight.

The victims were overpowered and their cellphones and money were stolen, cops said.

The latest victim was a 53-year-old man who was surrounded by eight teenagers Wednesday, shoved to the sidewalk, kicked and robbed.

Cops have beefed up patrols, but park-goers are still worried - and angry.

"These kids out there eventually become parents. Would they want their children to be robbed?" asked Clement Hazell, 37, who was in the park yesterday with his 5-year-old daughter.

"What if someone did to them what they're doing to us? How would they feel?"

The frightening robberies were the latest in a series of 16 such crimes since mid-January. Cops have managed to arrest eight people in five attacks, but the mugging spree has not slowed.

Investigators aren't sure whether they're looking for one or more organized gangs or just random groups.

Residents enjoying the sunshine yesterday said the spree had them scared to use the park. A 30-year-old Park Slope resident who asked that she not be named said, "Part of the reason I live here is to be in the park. I used to come after work and sit and read. I won't do that anymore."

The attacks began Jan. 11. There were two attacks April 28 and then two Wednesday, including the one involving the 53-year-old victim.

One suspect was arrested Jan. 25, another Feb. 9, a third March 21, then three April 28 and two May 5.

Many of the robberies occurred just outside the park and the muggers fled inside it. Regulars in the park said they take special precautions.

"I try to come when it's light out. I always have my guard up," said Steven Morales, 38, of Fort Greene, who jogs and works out four or five times a week in the park.

"I notice when there's someone near me or behind me and I'll pull over and let them pass," said Morales, an architect.


http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/69314.htm

[Drano]

Isn't there a spike every year when the leaves come out? Makes it much easier to hide after you do your crimes.

We need to defoliate that place. Maybe there's some old agent orange in the armory...

[armchair_warrior]

this just pisses me off. i goto the park like once a week . blah too bad we dont have canings like in singapore. a public beating would be sweet! blah one guy can hope and dream!


i should start carrying things like i did back when i was a lad in going to the park.
_________________
Fight white guilt and injustice by going to a Native American casino and gamble your money away.
Smoke tax free guilt free from Native American Stores.

Company faces of evil: Apple, Facebook , and now Google.

[WhyFi]

Where's Batman when we need him? Punks need an ass-whupin'.
_________________
...not that there's anything wrong with that.

[quijibo]

batman's busy...

[armchair_warrior]

[quijibo]

holy cow. you've already reached 1,000 posts?!?!

damn. you are quick. you must have like 3 arms and stuff...

[armchair_warrior]

[Emily]

Aha, this post explains a lot. As a result of working on this site I get press releases emailed to me from a couple of different organizations. Here was today's missive, which didn't make sense to me at first:

[dailyheights]

Here's another report on it -

Rash of Attacks in Prospect Park
At least nine muggings in the last six weeks
WABC Eyewitness News' Ken Rosato

(New York -WABC, May 30, 2006) - Police in Brooklyn are warning about a string of gang attacks in and around Prospect Park. There have been at least nine attacks reported in the last few weeks...

"... All of the attacks happened when groups of five to eight teens gathered around a solo victim, in many cases the victims were also teens who would be robbed of their cell phones but that hasn't always been the case. The most recent victim was a 53-year-old man."

"The attacks started back on April 15th inside the park at 5th Street and Prospect Park West. Three days later, two blocks away there was another attack. Ten days after that, right along busy Prospect Park West, yet another victim. And on, and on. "

"...Residents tell Eyewitness News the gangs of kids often gather around 100 feet from Prospect Park West's 5th Street entrance. They tell us it's here the kids drink beer and do drugs."

Are gangs taking over Prospect Park? [7Online.com]
_________________
HOT BOARD | NEW YORK'S BEST THREADS
4 BLOCKS BACK - http://twitter.com/brooklynian

[WhyFi]

Okay... so it sounds like they know who's doin' what and where they're doin' it... wtf is the problem? Patrol the area, put together a little sting and be done with it. Why has it gotten this far?
_________________
...not that there's anything wrong with that.

[armchair_warrior]

i still say they should get a public beating! or have single people walk around as decoys and when they get caught get a beating!
_________________
Fight white guilt and injustice by going to a Native American casino and gamble your money away.
Smoke tax free guilt free from Native American Stores.

Company faces of evil: Apple, Facebook , and now Google.

[dailyheights]

There's a good piece on the crime blitz in Gothamist:

http://www.gothamist.com/archives/2006/05/30/prospect_park_t.php
_________________
HOT BOARD | NEW YORK'S BEST THREADS
4 BLOCKS BACK - http://twitter.com/brooklynian

[writerman]

A couple of good takes, as well, in Gowanus Lounge:

http://gowanuslounge.blogspot.com/2006/05/pro.....ime-spree-here-comes.html

and

http://gowanuslounge.blogspot.com/2006/05/sto.....r-your-morning-latte.html

[armchair_warrior]