Commuters say 'not again' after yet another incident at the 86th Street subway station in Gravesend
Police say a 31-year-old man was robbed at knifepoint shortly after 7:30 a.m. Tuesday inside the station.
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Commuters in Gravesend say they're growing increasingly concerned about safety at the 86th Street N train station after another violent crime was reported there this week.
Police say a 31-year-old man was robbed at knifepoint shortly after 7:30 a.m. Tuesday inside the station.
According to police, the victim was approached by a stranger who attempted to sell him marijuana. When the man declined, police say the suspect pulled out a large knife, threatened him and stole his cellphone before fleeing the scene.
The victim was not injured.
For many riders, the incident is the latest in a troubling pattern of crime at the station.
“It’s not the first time we kind of heard about somebody stabbing somebody else or jumping somebody else or punching somebody else,” one commuter told News 12. “It’s shocking at that time, but actually not really.”
“Things like this is quite normal around here,” said another resident.
Residents say the perception of crime in and around the station has left many feeling uneasy.
A resident who lives in the neighborhood recalled another violent incident involving someone she knows.
“We actually know somebody that was walking up the stairs minding their business," she said. "They just got slashed on the back of their ankles for no reason. It is really horrible because nobody should have that happen. Especially if you're not from here, you should be able to take the train and come to this neighborhood because it's a nice neighborhood sometimes.”
According to NYPD statistics, citywide there have been at least 1,132 reported transit crimes so far this year, seven fewer than the same period last year.
In this section of Brooklyn, however, reported transit crimes have increased, with at least 122 incidents reported compared to 105 during the same time frame last year.
Despite those numbers, some residents say their personal experiences suggest safety remains an ongoing issue.
“No, I don’t agree with that,” Denise said when asked about the statistics. “I was coming from Atlantic Avenue coming home, and it was two men that pulled out a knife and were harassing me. I went to the booth and it was empty. That’s a problem for transit. If you got somebody in the booth, they could actually call for police.”
The latest robbery comes months after another violent attack at the same station.
In February, a man was robbed of his wallet and slashed multiple times by a stranger as a train approached the 86th Street station.
Last year, a 78-year-old woman was punched in the face on a B1 bus that had stopped across the street from the station.
Police are continuing to search for the suspect involved in Tuesday's robbery. Anyone with information is asked to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline.
