Roosevelt Island Duane Reade Vandalized This Afternoon, Merchandise Display Cases Knocked Over By Person Shoplifting

A Roosevelt Island Tipster reported this afternoon:

I got to Duane Reade at about 2:40 PM today and a man had apparently been trying to shoplift, got angry when confronted and knocked over displays.

Another resident reported Duane Reade temporarily closed to clean up.

According to store employees, nobody was injured and the shoplifter is a repeat offender known to them. The store reopened a short while later.

I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Chief Kevin Brown:

I understand that Duane Reade was vandalized today and forced to shut down.

I'm told that a shoplifter got angry when he was confronted and started to vandalize and knock down rows of display items.

Any comment from RIOC on this subject of great concern to the Roosevelt Island community?

No response from Chief Brown.

During the September 19, 2023 Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Community Engagement Meeting, Chief Brown discussed the Roosevelt Island Duane Reade shoplifting problem.

According to Chief Brown:

... Duane Reade/Walgreens, we have a number of Petit Larcenys in that location ... we have people who are going in the store and being disruptive to the way we want go about our way of life on Roosevelt Island and that's something we're working with Walgreens, working with Public Safety. I  have a foot posting in that area. When things happen down there, we're right on top of it... ...  Working with Walgreens, I was told they would not hire a full time security guard unless one of their people are injured or hurt ....

NYC Mayor Eric Adams yesterday announced the launching of a task force to combat retail theft.

Retail theft hurts everyone, especially our mom-and-pop shops and consumers.

Meet the task force to combat retail theft: https://t.co/pKQ6UixXYm pic.twitter.com/xa2y9EMFQF

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) November 8, 2023

Man Punched In Face And Bloodied Outside Of Roosevelt Island Starbucks On Sunday Afternoon, Second Incident In Area During Past Week - Continued Silence From RIOC, What Happened To Promised 100% Transparency?

A Roosevelt Island eyewitness Tipster reported yesterday, August 13, at approximately 5 PM:

An older gentleman sitting outside of Starbucks got punched pretty hard by a young man. The two continued to  argue with the younger man retreating to the subway. I didn't see the whole thing but Public Safety arrived right away and spoke to both. NYPD is here too.

He got punched really hard because there is blood all over his chin.

The August 13 RIOC PSD Blotter reported:

08/13/23 – 1645 – 455 Main St – Juvenile Related – PSD and EMS responded – Report filed.

The RIOC PSD Blotter says nothing about a man being punched in the face and bloodied.

Yesterday, I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department Chief Kevin Brown and Assistant Vice President of Communications Akeem Jamal:

...  Does RIOC have any comment to the Roosevelt Island community on this incident and any more details of what happened?.

There has been no response from RIOC.

Today, I asked the NYPD:

Yesterday, August 13 at approximately 4:30 pm an older male was punched in the face by a younger male at the Starbucks outdoor patio on Roosevelt Island 455 Main Street. The younger man escaped into the subway. I'm told that NYPD 114 officers arrived, spoke to the victim and took a statement.

Do you have any info on this incident?

Also on Thursday August 10 at approximately 9 AM a teenager was robbed by a masked wearing suspect at 465 Main Street (which is nearby to the Starbucks) and ran into the subway as well. The 114 precinct responded and took statements.

Do you have any info on this incident? Are the incidents related?...

The NYPD spokesperson replied:

There are no complaint reports on file with information you’ve provided.

A Starbucks worker confirmed today that an older man was punched in the face by a younger man yesterday outside Starbucks and that the victim's face was bloodied and scratched. 

RIOC has still not commented on the August 10 morning robbery of teenager near the subway.

During the July 25 PSD Community Engagement meeting, Chief Brown said that PSD:

... will address issues when they come before us and we will do 100% to be transparent... 

Unfortunately, answering public safety questions from the local Roosevelt Island press in a timely, or at all, is apparently not part of RIOC's transparency definition.

Roosevelt Island Teen Mugged Near Subway Station Yesterday Morning, Mask Wearing Thief Escaped Into Subway Station - RIOC Claims Intent To Be Transparent On Public Safety But They Are Silent On This Incident

 The NYPD 114 precinct responded to a report of a mugging

 

near the Roosevelt Island subway station yesterday at about 9 AM.

Yesterday morning, I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department Chief Kevin Brown and Assistant Vice President of Communications Akeem Jamal:

I understand there was a mugging this morning on Main Street near the subway station and suspect escaped into the subway station? The victim was a teen?

Is that true? 

Was the victim injured ?  Were any weapons used?

Do you have any more info on the incident?

There was no response from  RIOC.

 

I followed up today with another email to Chief Brown and Mr Jamal:

As you may recall, during the July 25 PSD Community Engagement meeting, Kevin said that PSD wants to be 100 percent transparent in reporting Roosevelt Island public safety incidents. Being timely with reporting PSD incidents is part of being transparent.

I am following up on the email below about a mugging near the Roosevelt Island subway station yesterday morning.

According to the RIOC PSD blotter:

08/09/23 – 1019 – Rear of 465 Main St – Robbery – PSD, NYPD and EMS responded – Gone on arrival/ Report filed.

I understand the victim in yesterday's robbery was a male teenager and the mask wearing suspect escaped into the subway station?

Is that true? 

Was the victim injured ?  Were any weapons used? What was stolen from the teen?

Were there any PSD officers in the subway at the time. During the July 25 PSD community meeting, Kevin mentioned that PSD officers are often stationed in the subway station.

Do you have any more info on the incident?

Still no response from RIOC.

Roosevelt Island Public Safety Blotter Reports Sexual Assault And Robbery Incidents Last Week - Also, Why Was Food Delivery Driver Arrested Last Night Asks A Resident?

This morning, I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department Chief Kevin Brown and Assistant Vice President of Communications Akeem Jamal:

The July 8 Public Safety Incident report lists:

07/08/23 – 0451 – 400 Main St – Robbery – PSD and NYPD responded – Gone on arrival/ Report filed.

07/08/23 – 1117 – 400 Main St – Sexual Assault – PSD responded – Arrest made by PSD.

The July 7 PSD Incident report lists:

07/07/23 – 1824 – 400 Main St – Robbery – PSD and NYPD responded – Gone on arrival and refer to NYPD.

Please provide details as to what happened regarding these incidents.

Also, last evening about 9:15 PM witnesses observed a Food Delivery worker being arrested by PSD on Main Street across from 520 Main Street. According to the witnesses, it was unclear why the Delivery Worker was being arrested as he was receiving a parking summons.

However the July 10 PSD Daily Report does not show any indication of an arrest at that time and place.  It does show a towed vehicle in the area an hour later.

07/10/23 – 2229 – 510 Main Street – Towed Vehicle – PSD responded – Towed.

What happened with the Food Delivery Worker last night? Was he arrested and why?

I plan on publishing a story on these incidents later today. Please let me know if there will be any comment from RIOC.

Thank you.

A Roosevelt Island resident who witnessed arrest of the food delivery driver last night

 

shares this video.

 

According to the Public Safety Officer, the food delivery driver was illegally parked and:

... smacked my hand while I was writing the summons. That's why he was arrested...

The witness reports:

A friend of mine and I just watched a food delivery driver get arrested for running food up to an apartment. He had his hazards on and was upset upon getting a ticket on his return. It seemed totally uncalled for and insane to witness.

We watched the whole thing and don’t see a smack or any kind of contact at all. We were across the street just leaving Island Om, so not the best vantage point but still. He was upset and pleading with the officer that the ticket would cut into his earnings, it was very sad. Once we saw him being arrested, we couldn’t believe it and started taking pictures and filming. 

The arrest itself—and the 4 or 5 officers that showed up, seemed excessive. He did not resist but I truly believe if he hit the officer’s notepad, it was by mistake as he threw his arms up in exasperation, if anything. Just disturbing, the whole thing felt wrong. 

There has been no response from RIOC as of 8:40 pm.

To Whom It May Concern, An Open Letter To Person Who Tore Up Our Garden - What Motivated You To Steal Planting From Roosevelt Island Tree Pit Ask Roosevelt Island Volunteer Gardener

M. A. Witt is one of the volunteers contributing a great deal of time, effort and resources to make Roosevelt Island bloom by tending to the flowers and trees in the Southtown Riverwalk area. These efforts are enjoyed and appreciated by most residents but unfortunately there are exceptions. Ms Witt reports:

An Open Letter to the Person Who Tore Up Our Garden

On Monday September 26, I arrived back to the Island to find that someone had come in the middle of the night, prepared with a large bag and a garden spade, to steal one of the mature growth very large ferns from our building tree pits in front of 455 Main Street. This individual was caught on film. 

There is no doubt from the footage, and the late hour, that she knew she was stealing. My question is what motivates someone to come in the dark and steal from/vandalize a garden that is planted for the enjoyment of an entire community. What kind of un-reflected selfishness makes someone think that is okay?

A little background. When I am out working in the garden, the overwhelming majority of people who stop are kind and always express their appreciation for volunteers who give their time to make the Island beautiful. They share their thoughts and experience and chat for a brief moment: gardening is an activity that brings people together, that forges community. One gentleman, however, stopped to tell me that "big corporations plant the tree pits." I need to make clear that big corporations have nothing to do with the gardening on this island, at least not at our building. A small group of very hardy volunteers goes out in all kinds of weather weekly to tend these beds. They do it because they love gardening, to bird watch or from a sense of service to the community. What they are not is big corporations. They are not deep pockets. In short, this was not a victimless theft from a faceless entity. Individual people were harmed when this garden was vandalized. People I know and care about.

More importantly, these volunteers garden to conserve resources and to preserve the environment -- both social and ecological. This island could not afford the plantings we enjoy without the labor of volunteers. RIOC does not plant or tend flowers in the Commons by the Subway. The few that are planted there are courtesy of the tireless generosity of one woman.

Ironically, the fern that was taken is seasonal. It will die indoors in someone's apartment. The lasting impact of this will be limited to the sadness it caused to the volunteers who care for these plants, and in diminished expectations.

The area below circled in black

is where the fern was removed.

Three Women Robbed At Gunpoint Of 86 Thousand Dollars Worth Of Jewelry And Other Items In Front Of Roosevelt Island Graduate Hotel On Cornell Tech Campus Last Night

Last evening at about 8 PM I started receiving multiple reports from residents that a woman was robbed at gunpoint on Roosevelt Island's Main Street. The residents reporting the armed robbery learned about the incident from their Citizen App shown in screenshot of video below.

I went to see what happened and upon approaching 530 Main Street noticed that everything appeared to be a normal Roosevelt Island springtime Saturday night, people were eating outside at Nisi, hanging out by the bell in Good Shepherd Plaza and otherwise enjoying the evening. Nobody I spoke to knew about or had any information about an armed robbery occurring in the area just a few minutes earlier.

But, there was a NYPD vehicle with several officers in the Breezeway across from Good Shepherd Plaza.

I asked the officers if a woman had been robbed at gunpoint and they confirmed that it happened but had very little additional information other than there were no injuries.

Following up today, I was told by the NYPD that at approximately 7:30 PM last night, two women were inside a vehicle and one woman was outside the car when 3 men approached them with firearms and robbed the women of Eighty Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($80,600) worth of jewelry including a wedding ring, Gucci Slippers, Dior Purse, Cartier Watch and Bracelet, Hermes Kelly Bag and Bracelet as well as other items. The three suspects then drove away in another vehicle.

There was some initial confusion as to where the robbery occurred. 

The Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Daily blotter reported the incident happened at 22 North Loop Road which is the Graduate Hotel on the Cornell Tech campus.

05/21/22 – 1950 -22 North Loop Road – Robbery – NYPD, PSD Responded – Report Filed

At first NYPD said the robbery happened at 530 Main Street. But later in the day, the NYPD confirmed the location of the Robbery was in front of 22 North Loop Road, the site of the Graduate Hotel.

The incident is under active investigation.

Will update when more information becomes available.

Roosevelt Island Gunpoint Robbery Sunday Afternoon On Seawall Behind Island House - 120 Oxycontin Pills Taken

A Roosevelt Island tipster asked today:

Have you heard of the 550 robbery or attempted robbery at gunpoint?

According to a NYPD spokesperson, on Sunday afternoon at approximately 2 PM, the victim, a 35 year old male was approached on Main Street by a man known to him. The assailant displayed a gun and robbed the victim.

Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Deputy Director Kevin Brown reports:

There was a gunpoint robbery rear of 579 Main Street west seawall on 1/13/19 at 1359 hours

Perp M/40

Property taken 120 OxyContin pills.

No injuries reported and no arrests yet. Matter is under investigation.

UPDATE 1/16 - RIOC Public Safety Department Deputy Director Kevin Brown adds:

The victim was picking up the pills for his parent

The victim was picking up the pills which were obtained with a prescription from Gristedes pharmacy for his parent who came into PSD with the son when report was filed.

Roosevelt Island Woman Robbed Of Iphone And Beaten May 22 Afternoon At Roosevelt Island F Train Subway Station - Another Iphone Robbery From Roosevelt Island Bus May 19 Afternoon

A Tipster reported yesterday:

5 kids arrested on Monday at or by the train/tram. They are from off island but apparently they beat and robbed a young woman who lives here.

Also last Friday there was a report of 2 kids robbing a woman on the island for her phone. I am not sure if those 2 kids from Friday and the 5 kids from Monday are connected. But I feel like no one knows about it and we should.

Fridays incident happened on the bus. I am not sure if its the red bus or the 102, but the kids ran into the train.

According to a NYPD Spokesperson, on Monday, May 22, at approximately 2:30 in the afternoon, 5 teenagers between 13- 17 years of age approached a 28 year old woman standing at the Roosevelt Island F Train Station Manhattan Bound platform. The Queens teenagers, 4 female and 1 male, surrounded the Roosevelt Island woman, robbed her of an Iphone and roughed her up causing bruising and lacerations.

According to Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department (PSD) Director Jack McManus, following the incident, the woman canvassed the area with Public Safety Officers and spotted the teenagers at the Tram Station where they were arrested by PSD.

 NYPD & PSD At Tram Station May 22

Chief McManus and Deputy Chief Kevin Butler also reported a previous incident of a stolen Iphone occurring after school on Friday afternoon, May 19. According to Deputy Chief Butler, 2 kids, 12 years of age or younger, robbed an Iphone from a bus passenger and escaped into the Roosevelt Island F Train subway station. They were not caught. PSD is not sure if the robbery occurred on a Red Bus or NYC Q102 Bus.

Chief McManus says the two incidents are not related and not part of any organized gang. They were opportunistic crimes he said.

Chief McManus discussed these two incidents at the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Public Safety Committee meeting last night.

Here's the discussion.

Chicken Wings, Knife, Cleaver - Roosevelt Island China One Counter Person Thwarts Robbery Attempt At Closing Time Tuesday Night

According to the December 13 Roosevelt Island Public Safety Incident report:

12/13/16- 2300- 609 Main St.- Robbery- PSD/NYPD responded. Referred to NYPD.

I asked the NYPD what happened. The NYPD reported that a male, approximately 18 years of age went into the Roosevelt Island China One restaurant

Image From Google Maps

about 11 PM on December 13 asking for an order of chicken wings.

The China One counter person said the store was closed after which the chicken wing seeking male took out a knife and demanded money. The China One Counter Person responded by picking up a cleaver and the male quickly left the store.

Nobody was injured

Roosevelt Island Residents Arrested For Robbing Victim Of Jewelry And Bicycle Behind Roosevelt Landings Late Friday Night, A Knife Was Shown But No Injuries - Is There More Roosevelt Island Crime Or Just More Public Reporting Of Incidents?

Image Of Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Shield From RIOC

According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Daily Public Safety Report:

8/15/14 - 2340 - Robbery - 560 Main St - PSD/NYPD responded - #2 Males arrested by NYPD - No injures.

In response to an inquiry, a NYPD Spokesperson said that the victim was standing with girlfriend behind 560 Main Street (Roosevelt Landings) about 11:30 PM when approached by 2 males. One of the males showed a knife, the victim's pockets were searched and a watch and sterling silver bracelet were stolen.

Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Director Jack McManus adds that there were 3 robbers taking part in this incident. In addition to the jewelry, a bicycle was also stolen. Two of the 3 were caught soon after the robbery by the NYPD working together with Public Safety. The robbers arrested are in their late teens and Roosevelt Island residents.

Some residents reading reports of crime on Roosevelt Island are concerned that there has been a recent increase in such incidents. A former Roosevelt Island Public Safety Officer (Rush Mob), responding to Cheshire Kitty, stated that opinion in this recent comment:

... You blame Guerra for 5 years of over enforcement, but what you forget is that he followed what his RIOC bosses wanted. James Frye did the same thing. He followed what his bosses wanted too. Only he went around cursing people out. He didn't care about the community. He just did what his bosses wanted - which at that time was NOTHING. Now we have a new Director, who is doing the same thing - following what his RIOC bosses want. The only drastic change at PSD is that we have more assaults, robberies, burglaries and drug sales on the island....

I replied to Rush Mob:

Do you have any evidence that there are more assaults, robberies etc on Roosevelt Island now than in the past?

Could it be that the current RIOC President and Director Of Public Safety are more open and transparent in reporting these incidents to the community? The residents now know what is happening when there is a crime rather than in the past when such information was very difficult to obtain.

One way to compare then and now is on the RIOC Calls For Services/Response Stat page. Unfortunately, RIOC has not updated those statistics since April 2014.

Will update if Rush Mob responds.

China One Food Delivery Person Robbed Of $500 Responding To Fake Caller At Roosevelt Landings

According to the Roosevelt Island Daily Public Safety Report:

7/27/14 - 1509 - 510 Main St. - Robbery - PSD/NYPD conducted search with negative results. NYPD report filed.

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department Director Jack McManus provides the following details. A take out order was called in to Roosevelt Island's China One restaurant

for delivery at Roosevelt Landings 510 Main Street on Sunday afternoon. When the food delivery person arrived with the order at the apartment given by the caller, the resident opening the door said that no such order was made. After the resident closed the door, the delivery person was confronted by two persons, one with a knife, and robbed of $500.

A NYPD spokesperson added that the two robbers approached the delivery person in the stairwell, were masked, took the food in addition to the $500 and that the delivery person was not hurt.

Roosevelt Island Grand Larceny, Assault and Robery Incidents Reported In Last Few Days - RIOC Discusses Whether Safety Considerations Should Close Lighthouse Park Before Midnight and Put Up Entrance Gates

Roosevelt Island Public Safety incidents reported in the last few days include;

07/28/13 - 2137 - 580 Main St. - Robbery - PSD/NYPD responded. Report taken.

07/28/13 - 2245 - Assault - 686 Main St. -PSD/NYPD responded. Report taken.

07/29/13 - 0630 - Petit Larceny - PSD report taken. NYPD refused.

07/29/13 - 1000 - 688 Main St - Grand Larceny - PSD & NYPD responded - Report filed.

07/30/13 - 0420 - R/O 500 Main St - Assault/ Aided - PSD & NYPD responded - Refused Ems - Report filed.

07/30/13 - 0430 - 625 Main St - Attempted Grand Larceny - PSD responded - Refused NYPD - Report filed

I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Interim Public Safety Department (PSD) Director Jack McManus for additional information regarding these incidents. Will update when more is known.

The Daily Roosevelt Island PSD incident reports are posted and archived on the sidebar of this page.

During the July 16 RIOC Real Estate Advisory Committee (audio webcast here) meeting, RIOC President Charlene Indelicato, Mr. McManus and RIOC Directors discussed the idea of instituting consistent closing hours for Roosevelt Island parks so that late night crowds do not congregate at Lighthouse Park

which currently stays open to midnight.

Also, discussed was the idea of placing gates at the entrances

Queens Side Entrance To Lighthouse Park

to Lighthouse Park

 Manhattan Side Entrance To Lighthouse Park

so that closing times can be enforced.

No decisions were made.

Here's the RIOC Real Estate Advisory Committee discussion of Roosevelt Island park hours of operation and the possible gating of Lighthouse Park.



What do you think? Should Lighthouse Park be closed earlier than midnight and gates placed at entrance?

Robbery and Assault At Roosevelt Island Gristedes Store Last Night - Gun Used By Suspect

Stewart, a Roosevelt Island resident, reports on an assault that took place Saturday night outside of Gristedes. According to Stewart:

I walked out of the garage and saw a FDNY EMT truck and no less than 20 NYPD uniformed, detectives, plain clothes and PSD personnel in and outside Gristedes. We were going in to rent some movies and saw a couple of the young employees bloodied up. I talked to a few ppl and were told that these kids were pistol whipped right outside Gristedes. One of the employees said that these guys all had guns. We got there around 9:40 ish.

Pretty hardcore stuff for this to happen anywhere.

According to a NYPD Spokesperson:

The victim was leaving work last night when three males came up from behind him, threw him to the ground, searched his pockets and took his iPhone. One of the suspects was seen with a gun.

The suspects have not been apprehended.

No response from Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) to my inquiry today about the incident.

Click here for April 2013 RIOC Public Safety Blotter.

Attempted Robbery At Roosevelt Island's 455 Main Street Riverwalk Building Early This Morning

View Larger Map

Earlier today, I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Director Keith Guerra:

According to the Public Safety Report for

9/10 - 0511 - 455 Main St - Attempted Robbery - NYPD on scene no injuries

Please provide additional details as to what happened. Was a weapon involved, the ages of the victim and Robber, what was attempted to be robbed, was the incident inside 455 building, on the Riverwalk Commons or on Main Street as well as any other relevant information.

Thank you.

RIOC's Press Spokesperson replied:

We can tell you that the incident was outside of the building. As the report says, it occurred at 5:11 and there were no injuries.

Roosevelt Landings Robbery, Westview Larceny and More Roosevelt Island Public Safety Incidents From September 1 - 7

Image From RIOC

I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Director Keith Guerra:

The 9/5 Public Safety Report indicates:

9/5 -2229 - 560 Main St - Robbery - Victim Can ID Subjects - NYPD on scene

Please provide additional information including if the incident occurred on the street or in the building, time of day, was the victim an adult or child, how many subjects were involved in the robbery, what was the item stolen, were there any injuries as well as any other relevant information.

Does 2229 indicate the time of the incident as being 10:29 PM?

RIOC's Press Spokesperson replied

The incident occurred inside the building at 10:29pm (time is listed in military time) and there were no injuries.

I also asked Mr. Guerra:

Please provide additional information regarding the larceny report described below.

9/02 - 1840 - 625 Main St - Larceny - NYPD/PSD on Scene

Thank you.

RIOC's Press Spokesperson replied

We can tell you that there were no injuries in this incident.

Below are the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Incident Reports for September 1 -7.

9/6/12-7:00 AM to 9/7/12-7:00 AM

9/7 - 0400 - 510 Main St - Found property - Property Secured in PSD.

9/6 - 2259 - 694 Main St - Operating Vehicle with Suspended Licence. PSD Arrested Subject.

9/6 - 2020 - 888 Main St - Aided - Male Transported to local hospital.

9/6 - 0430 - 900 Main St - Missing Person/Aided - Hospital Police on scene.

9/6 - 0930 - 516 Main St - Found Property - Property Secured in PSD.

9/6 - 1200 - 546 Main St - Criminal Mischief - Damages repaired by cable company.

9/5/12-7:00 AM to 9/6/12-7:00 AM

9/5 - 1300 - 510 Main St - Family Concerns (Daughter/Mother) - Referred to NYPD

9/5 - 1900 - Adj 888 Main St - Found Property - Owner retrieved the property

9/5 - 2114 - 455 Main St - Lost Property (Off Island) - Referred to NYPD

9/5 -2229 - 560 Main St - Robbery - Victim Can ID Subjects - NYPD on scene

9/5 - 2259 - Known To The Dept. - Child Abuse Inter Family - Referred to NYPD/ ACS

9/6 - 0430 - 900 Main St - Missing Patient - Search made negative results.

9/4/12-7:00 AM to 9/5/12-7:00 AM

9/4 - 1400 - 510 Main St - Unsecured Door - PSD secured door

9/4 - 1405 - 688 Main St - Unsecured Vehicle - PSD secured vehicle

9/4 - 1450 - 510 Main St - Unsecured Mail - Mailman secured mail

9/4 - 1905 - 546 Main St - Aided - EMS Refused/ No injuries

9/4 - 1925 - 510 main St - Water leak - UA Corrected condition

9/4 - 2125 - F/O 1 Main St - Verbal Dispute - PSD corrected condition

9/5 - 0100 - 900 Main St - Missing Patient - Search made negative results

9/5 - 0500 - 531 Main St - Aided - EMS refused/ No Injuries

9/5 - 0600 - 510 Main St - Dispute - NYPD on scene - condition corrected

9/5 - 0630 - 300 Main St - Alarm - Referred to Tram Supervisor

9/3/12-7:00 AM to 9/4/12-7:00 AM

9/3 - 1205 - 560 Main St - Aided - Removed to hospital

9/3 - 1800 - 580 Main St - Found Property - Owner retrieved property

9/4 - 0630 - 531 Main St - Aided - EMS refused- No Injuries

9/2/12-7:00 AM to 9/3/12-7:00 AM

9/02 - 0957 - 560 Main St Aided - Removed to the hospital

9/02 - 1400 - Unsecured door - Door secured

9/02 - 1500 - S/O 1 Main St - Trespassing - PSD arrested subject

9/02 - 1515 - 580 Main St - Verbal Dispute - No Injuries

9/02 - 1840 - 625 Main St - Larceny - NYPD/PSD on Scene

9/02 - 2039 - 546 Main St - Gas Leak - UA corrected condition

9/02 - 2230 - 10 River Rd - Found Property - PSD secured property

9/1/12-7:00 AM to 9/2/12-7:00 AM

09/01 - 0945 - Found Property - Secured at PSD

09/01 - 1220 - Harassment - No injuries

09/01 - 1425 - Harassment - No injuries

09/01 - 2015 - Shoplifter - Search made with negative results

The Daily Public Safety Reports are listed on sidebar.

Thursday Evening Robbery and Assault At Roosevelt Island's Blackwell Park

I sent the following inquiry to Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Vice President of Operations Fernando Martinez and Public Safety Department Director Keith Guerra last Friday:

The 9/15 -16 Public Safety Report notes the following robbery.

Robbery - Possible subjects know to this department. NYPD notified and prepared report. Search of the island made with negative results.

Can you provide any further details or information on this incident as well as this one from the 9/11 -12 Public Safety Report that I asked about in the email below.

Robbery - Search made with negative results. NYPD filed a report.

Thank you.

I received the following response today from RIOC Community Relations Specialist Erica Spencer-El (formerly Wilder):

On Thursday, September 15th, two young adults were robbed near Blackwell Park by three subjects. The three subjects assaulted the young adults, forcibly removing several items from their backpack and purse including a cell phone. One of the victims was a Roosevelt Island resident who was able to recognize the perpetrators.

After descriptions of the robbers were gathered, Public Safety apprehended two of the three subjects and processed their arrest at the 114th precinct on Saturday, September 17th. There is currently an arrest warrant out on the 3rd subject. 

I followed up asking:

What time of day did this incident occur? How old were the victims and subjects arrested? Young adults is a bit vague. 

Ms. Spencer-El replied:

The incident occurred at 6:13PM. The victims are both 18 years of age.

UPDATE 4:40 PM - The NY Post Daily Blotter adds:

Two teen punks were busted for beating and robbing a pair of victims on Roosevelt Island, cops said.

A 15-year-old thug and his accomplice set upon the victims at 6 p.m. Thursday on Main Street, court papers say.

They bit the male victim’s arm, punched him in the face and yanked his backpack away before slapping his female friend, bending her fingers and ripping off her purse, cops said.

The teens were arrested and charged with assault and robbery.

Roosevelt Island Resident Robbed Saturday Night Near Subway Station - IPhone Snatched, Suspects Arrested By NYPD With Assistance From Public Safety Department

The Roosevelt Island Public Safety Report for 8/20 - 21 indicated:

Robbery - PSD assisted NYPD in the arrest of two subjects.

I inquired of Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Vice President of Operations Fernando Martinez and Public Safety Department Director Keith Guerra for additional information.  Mr. Guerra replied:

On Saturday, August 20th at approximately 11:02 PM, a female island resident was robbed near the Train Station by two male juveniles; also island residents. Said juvenile male subjects assaulted the female victim while stealing her I-Phone. PSD & the NYPD were called. A canvass was performed by Officers from both agencies and subsequently, both subjects were apprehended and placed under arrest for Robbery. They were transported to the 114th precinct by the NYPD for processing. The female victim was treated and released by EMS on scene.

There have been other incidents in the past of cell phone robberies and snatches near the subway station.

It's probably a good idea to have the Public Safety Department Booth stationed near the subway, though not necessarily in front of the entrance where it currently is.

As reported in previous post, the Public Safety Department Booth is temporarily located at the subway entrance until it is moved across the street after completion of construction work by the MTA and RIOC.

The Daily Roosevelt Island Public Safety reports are published and archived on the Blog's middle sidebar.

Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Responds To Blackwell Park Assault/Robbery & Attempted Jump From Roosevelt Island Bridge

Image From RIOC

The 8/18-19 daily Roosevelt Island Public Safety Report indicated the following two incidents:

Robbery/ Assault- PSD arrested a subject.

and:

Aided/EDP- A male threatened to kill himself by jumping off of the R.I. Bridge. PSD, NYPD and EMS responded. Male was taken to the hospital by EMS. No injuries.

I asked Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Director Keith Guerra to provide additional information as to what happened during these incidents. Mr. Guerra responded:

ROBBERY/ASSAULT: 2 victims- both off-islanders-
At 7:30PM, an anonymous male reported to PSD that numerous males were using weapons to harm others near Blackwell Park. A canvass of the area was conducted. One of our officers made contact with one assault victim (who also had his back-pack taken). He gave a description of a subject, and was observed by another officer attempting to flee the Subway area, and was taken into custody. While in the station-house with subject number #1, PSD located the 2nd assault victim.

The subject in custody was identified by a witness of the incident, along with three others (not yet apprehended). The subject that was in custody is 15 years-old. One of the wanted subjects is 17 years-old, and the age of the remaining two males is unknown at this time.

The arrested subject was charged with-- Robbery, Assault with intent to cause injury with a weapon, Gang Assault, resisting arrest and Harassment 2nd degree; physical contact.

One victim refused medical attention (RMA) and the other was transported to the hospital.

and:

Aided Case-Suicide Attempt: At 2:59AM, a 30 year old island resident attempted to commit suicide by jumping off 36th Ave bridge. The DOT employees observed and detained him on the Vernon Blvd. side of the bridge and alerted PSD. PSD responded to the location. NYPD was also on scene. The Aided was transported to Hospital.

The Public Safety Reports for the most recent week are posted daily on the blog's middle sidebar.

Burglary, Robbery & Assault At Roosevelt Landings - 4 Suspects Arrested By Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department

Image From RIOC

According to the 4/25 -26 Roosevelt Island Public Safety Report:

Robbery/Burglary/Assault- 4 Subjects arrested by PSD.

Roosevelt Island Public Safety Director Keith Guerra adds:

Please be advised that on Saturday, April 24, 2010 at approximately 9:06pm, four (4) males (off-island residents) forced their way into a ground floor apartment in Roosevelt Landings (via the outdoor porch) and stole a laptop from the living room. The subjects were chased by the 24 year-old victim. He caught up to them and demanded his laptop back. He was then assaulted by them. PSD Officers observed the small chase and immediately pursued from different directions. All four males were apprehended by PSD. One of the four subjects fought with the Officers during his apprehension. Two PSD officers were subsequently injured. The victim and two Officers were treated and released from the hospital. The laptop was returned to the victim.

The four males ranging in age between 19-21 were charged with Burglary, Robbery, Assault, Possession of Stolen Property, Resisting Arrest and Unlawful Possession of Marihuana. They are ... (Name Omitted), age 21 (Bronx resident); ... (Name Omitted), age 19 (Brooklyn resident); ... (Name Omitted), age 21 (Bronx resident) and ... (Name Omitted), age 21 (Bronx Resident).

While at the 114th Precinct for processing, Precinct Detectives ascertained that one of the subjects was wanted in connection of a shooting in the Bronx. Two others had been recently released from Prison; one for Possession of a Firearm. These were four bad individuals, who will hopefully be put away for a long time.

I'd like to especially commend Sgt. Hernandez, Det. Malone, SPO Rivera, SPO Gilmore, SPO Vernet, SPO Clemente and P.O. Fernandez for their courageous efforts in making this arrest.

Blackberry Stolen & Another Attempted Theft Of Roosevelt Island Iphone Near Subway

Image of Blackberry Phone From Slipperbrick

Commenting on yesterday's post about a Roosevelt Island Good Samaritan who chased after two thieves attempting to rob a woman of her cell phone by the Subway Station at 9:35 PM on April 6, a reader wrote:

I think these people tried to steal my phone as well. Yesterday as I was walking home from the subway 3 boys tried to rip my phone out of my hand. Luckily they didn't succeed and once I started screaming they left me alone. Hopefully they catch who did this.

The Roosevelt Island Public Safety Report for 4/7 - 4/8 provides some additional information:

Attempted Robbery- Three males approached a female and attempted to take the cell phone from her hand. Female screamed and subjects fled. PSD responded and conducted a search with negative results. NYPD refused. No injuries.

Unfortunately, this Blackberry owner was not so lucky:

Grand Larceny- Male youth took a blackberry from a female and fled. PSD responded and conducted a search with negative results. No injuries. EMS refused. NYPD refused.

Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Chief Keith Guerra indicated yesterday that:

Our Ant-Crime Officers are looking further into the matter.

Stay Alert!

UPDATE 12:45 PM - Mr. Guerra adds the following information regarding yesterday's incidents:

At 4:04 PM, there was an attempted robbery of an I-phone by the west seawall. Thankfully, the victim was not injured and did not lose her phone, as she screamed loudly, and the unknown male subject fled southbound.

At 9:40 PM, an unknown male snatched a blackberry out of a woman's hand by the meditation steps and fled northbound.

Neither victim could give a full description of the male involved, but in both incidents, the male subject was described as African-American.

While neither victim did anything wrong, we do ask that everyone be aware of their surroundings while using their phones.