Scissors-Wielding Teen Girls Arrested for Muggings in Uptown Park

Nigel Chiwaya dnainfo.com WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — Two 15-year-old girls threatened to stab people with scissors if they didn't hand over their cell phones and wallets in a Washington Heights park, police said. The teen muggers were part of a group of four youths who police said pulled scissors on a man near the Fort Tryon Park playground just after 2 p.m. June 2. The victim, 47, was in the park when he was approached by the teens and two young men, police said. One of the men eyed the victim's iPhone, telling him "Nice phone" before demanding he give it up, police said. That's when one of the girls drew a large pair of scissors and threatened to stab the man, who picked up a stick to try to defend himself, according to police. When a passerby intervened, the group scattered. Minutes later, the group confronted a 24-year-old woman sitting on a park bench. One of the teen girls placed her in a choke hold while the thieves rummaged through her purse and stole her makeup, keys and a wallet with $450 inside, police said. Officers from the 34th Precinct spotted the youth committing the second crime and cuffed the teen girls, though the males escaped, police said. The girls are suspected of threatening other people with scissors the previous Monday morning, May 26, police said. to read more: dnainfo.com