A series of six patterned robbery cases occurred in Greenwich Village and Williamsburg, New York City, from March to June this year. The robbers, consisting of two men and a woman, targeted customers dining at upscale restaurants, robbing them at gunpoint of luxury watches or jewelry before escaping on motorcycles. The stolen watches are valued at over $300,000.
The first incident took place around 7:29 pm on March 27th, when a 33-year-old man was walking in front of 227 Avenue of the Americas in Greenwich Village. Two male robbers on motorcycles approached him, brandishing a silver gun and stealing a $65,000 Rolex watch before fleeing north along Avenue of the Americas.
On May 24th around 4:46 pm, three men were dining outside a restaurant at 475 West Broadway when two male robbers targeted them. One robber grabbed a victim’s neck while the other showed a silver gun. They stole watches valued at $40,000, $35,000, and $8,500 from the victims before escaping east along West Houston St.
Around 6:50 pm on May 31st, two men were dining outside Marlow & Sons at 81 Broadway in Williamsburg when two male robbers approached them. The robbers, armed with a gun, stole an Audemars Piguet watch valued at $35,000 and a $5,000 Rolex from the victims before escaping west along Broadway on a motorcycle.
At 8:46 pm on June 18th, a 39-year-old man was dining outside Carbone restaurant at 181 Thompson St when two male robbers on motorcycles arrived. They robbed the victim of a $100,000 Patek Philippe watch at gunpoint before fleeing north along Thompson St.
Around 9:35 pm on June 21st, two men were dining at Birds of a Feather restaurant at 191 Grand Street in Williamsburg when two robbers entered. They stole iPhones worth $1,000 each and a $200 watch from the victims at gunpoint before escaping west along Grand Street on motorcycles.
At approximately 7:45 pm on June 26th, a 58-year-old Canadian man was robbed at gunpoint in front of 115 MacDougal St by two robbers armed with black handguns. They stole a $40,000 Rolex Presidential watch and an 18K gold bracelet valued at $2,000 before fleeing south along MacDougal St on motorcycles.
Authorities stated that the robbers targeted patrons of high-end restaurants, using guns to intimidate them for their luxury watches or jewelry, often shouting “Rolex!” or speaking in Spanish. In addition to the two male robbers, a female accomplice would sometimes act as a lookout. After a successful robbery, the criminals would escape on light motorcycles or off-road vehicles. Citizens with information can contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-8477.