Group Of Teens Rob Uber Driver, Punch Him In The Face: Cops

GREENWICH VILLAGE, NY — A group of teens have been connected to two different muggings in the Financial District and Greenwich Village this month, the New York Police Department said.

In one incident on Thursday, May 16 about 5 p.m., an Uber driver, 22, picked up two people at Washington Square North and University Place in Greenwich Village, police said.

But several others tried to get into the car instead — and when the driver refused to drive away, a teen described as female punched him in the face, while another snatched the driver's earpods, police said. A third person held the driver's arm and took the earpods' charger before running away towards Fifth Avenue, police said.

In an earlier incident, a man, 48, was walking in front of 15 Park Row while talking on his cell phone Thursday, May 9 about 4:40 p.m., police said.

Several teens approached him, and one took his cell phone and ran off, police said.

Police have released surveillance footage of the thieves, who cops have described as teens. Police said one video shows a person connected with the May 9 incident. Three images below show three people connected with the May 16 mugging, police said.

Cops suspect all four are linked to the two robberies.

Anyone with information in regard to the identities of these individuals is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

All calls are strictly confidential.