Unsolved crimes rattle residents

In the aftermath of multiple unsolved assaults and felonies over the past seven weeks, residents are rattled.

The string of crimes include the stabbing of a 16-year old student, a woman found with stab wounds in a parking lot on Valentine’s Day, an elderly woman defrauded of $70,000 in cash and a hit-and-run.

“If these incidents have taken place once already and the individuals have not been caught, why wouldn’t they strike again?” a female Kingsbridge resident who wished to remain anonymous told The Press.  

On the afternoon of Thursday, Feb. 13, it was reported to police an 85-year old female victim received a phone call from an unidentified individual who told her she was late on utility bills to the tune of $45,000.

The scam artist met with the victim in the vicinity of Henry Hudson Parkway West and West 231st Street and took the money, according to the NYPD.

The suspect called the woman a second time and threatened to vandalize her home if they didn’t receive another payment of $25,000. The elderly woman obliged before calling police.

The crime was categorized as grand larceny by the NYPD and the suspect is still being sought by police.

On Valentine's Day, a woman was “found by police in a pool of her own blood,” at a parking lot on West 234th Street between Broadway and Kingsbridge Avenue.

The female victim was taken to a nearby hospital and later reported in stable condition, but police still have not located the suspect.

“It’s frightening to think these offenders, these perpetrators are still out there,” Miriam, a Riverdale resident said. “I haven’t heard about some of these incidents, but it’s scary to think this is taking place in our neighborhood. 

On the morning of March 4, the NYPD confirmed a nine-year old suffered a head injury in a hit-and-run incident. Both drivers exited their vehicles following the crash when one of the drivers suddenly took off on foot.

The child, whose name or gender was not revealed by police, was expected to make a full recovery.

The suspect who fled has still to be located by authorities.

Late last month, a 16-year old victim was stabbed within close vicinity of the John F. Kennedy High School complex.The NYPD made two arrests in response to the stabbing and apprehended two teenagers. A 15-year old female was arrested on March 3 while a 14-year old male was apprehended two days later in what police have categorized as a gang assault.

Police would not provide names of the two offenders or the 16-year-old victim.

On the afternoon of Jan. 29 just before 3 p.m., an unidentified male used a blunt object to break several glass panes of two front doors in the vicinity of Webb and Reservoir avenues. He too is on the loose.

“It makes you wonder if the police are actually following up, because it seems like these crimes rarely get solved,” a Kingsbridge male resident said, who wished to remain anonymous to avoid any retaliation from authorities or possible perpetrators.

Another Kingsbridge resident told The Press “It’s hard to feel safe all the time when these violent acts seem to take place at random.”

In 2024, felony assaults within the confines of the 50th Precinct reached the highest mark since 1993, with approximately 252 incidents having taken place last year, according to the 50th Precinct’s published crime statistics on NYC.gov.