An 87-year-old man became the victim of a terrifying broad daylight robbery in New York City when two brazen thieves targeted his luxury Rolex watch in a violent street attack.
The shocking incident, captured on surveillance video, shows the elderly pensioner walking along East 52nd Street near Madison Avenue when two men suddenly approach him from behind. What follows is a desperate struggle that has left the local community horrified.
The violent attack unfolded around 1:40 pm on Tuesday, as the senior citizen was simply going about his day. Without warning, one of the assailants grabs the victim from behind while the other attempts to wrestle the expensive timepiece from his wrist.
Despite his advanced age, the octogenarian showed incredible courage, fighting back against his much younger attackers. The footage shows him struggling valiantly to protect his property, refusing to surrender without a fight.
The suspects eventually managed to seize the valuable watch before fleeing the scene on foot, leaving their elderly victim shaken but fortunately not seriously injured. The entire confrontation lasted mere seconds but represents a growing concern about violent street crime targeting vulnerable individuals.
NYPD has released the surveillance images of the two suspects, describing them as males with medium complexions and slim builds. Both were wearing distinctive clothing, including black face masks, dark sweaters, and baseball caps—a common tactic used by criminals to conceal their identities.
This incident highlights an alarming trend of watch robberies targeting older individuals in urban areas. Luxury timepieces have become prime targets for thieves due to their high value and relative ease of resale on black markets.
Police are urging anyone with information to come forward and have reminded the public to remain vigilant, especially when wearing expensive jewelry in public spaces.
