Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Christmas Day Park Muggings
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 26, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 26, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Yesterday, there were two mugging incidents in city parks. Last night, a man was beaten with a club near the Unisphere in Queens' Flushing Meadows Park. He had been walking through the park around 6:40PM when two men attacked him. Police believe they were trying to rob the man, who is now in critical condition at Elmhurst General.
And yesterday afternoon, a tourist from Singapore was threatened at knife point in a Central Park bathroom. Mindy Tan was in a stall near 109th Street and East Drive when a man "broke down the door." From the Post:
"He said, 'Gimme your camera,' and I saw his face coming towards me," said Tan, a journalist, who believes the thug had been watching her taking pictures of ducks only a few moments earlier.
"I took a step forward to try to get by him," Tan said.
"He pushed me into the corner. He pointed a knife at me and grabbed the camera from around my neck with his other hand."
She called out to her friend Hazel Chan, who was in an adjoining stall.
When Chan - who is also from Singapore - came out, a second mugger appeared.
The man with the knife put his hand over Tan's mouth and warned her to "keep quiet," she said.
"I was staring at the blade all the time," she said.
Luckily the women were not injured. The police are still looking for the muggers. The Post also adds that although major crimes are down 20% since 2001 in the park, larcenies are up by 58% this year. Be careful, everyone.
Photograph from Triborough on Flickr
Tagged
central park
east drive
flickr
flushing
flushing meadows
flushing meadows park
News: NYC
parks
photos
pictures
police
queens
the post
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Bronx man indicted for murder in fatal bodega shooting
Prosecutors say Jesus Acosta shot and killed Tayvon Shuler, then robbed the East 149th Street store last month.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Sep 29, 2026 at 7:44 p.m. ET
Mamdani must redo his pied-à-terre tax rollout, NY judge orders
A Staten Island judge ruled against the city in a lawsuit challenging the rollout of the new tax, a day after a billionaire casino mogul sued to invalidate it.
By
David Brand
News
Mamdani must redo his pied-à-terre tax rollout, NY judge orders
A Staten Island judge ruled against the city in a lawsuit challenging the rollout of the new tax, a day after a billionaire casino mogul sued to invalidate it.
By
David Brand
NYC eyes higher fines for owners of dirty vacant lots, abandoned construction sites
By
Liam Quigley
NJ Gov. Sherrill vetoes 2 bills meant to give strapped Jersey City more revenue tools
By
Michael Sol Warren
Brooklyn residents displaced after facade falls off neighboring building amid nor'easter
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .